[Exclusive] Chris Newsome Says New Zealand Will Be 'Physical And Test' Gilas On Thursday

Gilas Pilipinas's training camp for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers is already underway at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna. The Nationals will play New Zealand on November 21 and Hong Kong on November 24, both home games, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

New Zealand will be fielding players who competed at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Greece a few months ago, including Flynn Cameron, former PBA import Tom Vodanovich, veteran Corey Webster, and 17-year-old Oscar Goodman.

In this FIBA window, Gilas will have to face a physical Tall Blacks team on Thursday. The last time the Philippines played New Zealand was on June 22, 2022, during the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers in Auckland, New Zealand. Gilas Pilipinas lost to New Zealand, 106 - 60.

Gilas Pilipinas guard Chris Newsome says it won't be easy to get a dub on number 22 world-ranked New Zealand on Thursday.

"They're definitely tough. They're battle-tested. They've been in a lot of big tournaments, a lot of crucial games that they've had to play," the 34-year-old Newsome said in an exclusive interview after his first-ever fan event on November 9. "You know, it's no easy task whenever you're playing against them."

Besides New Zealand's physical play, Gilas will have to force the Tall Blacks to take more contested shots in the perimeter. Another challenge for Gilas is to limit their turnovers and not give New Zealand fastbreak points.

"We have to limit their points in the paint and force them to take challenged or contested 3s," Newsome said. "Limit TO’s [turnovers] so we don’t give them easy fastbreak points since they are also a great defensive team."

Gilas Pilipinas will have to deal with New Zealand's physical game to get the W in front of the home crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday.

"They're gonna be very physical and they're gonna test us, for sure," the Gilas Pilipinas guard said. "But you know, I think, the key is for us to hit first and not let them dictate exactly how the game is gonna go, especially it being on a home game for us."

Gilas guard Chris Newsome looks forward to New Zealand's 'haka' on Thursday

Playing against New Zealand for the first time in a FIBA tournament, Gilas Pilipinas guard Chris Newsome is looking forward to experiencing the 'haka', New Zealand's Mauri war dance on Thursday.

"Looking forward to it. It's gonna be my first time being on the other end of the haka. That's gonna be something to see," the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP excitedly said. "But other than that, I'm gonna be the same Newsome that you always know. I'ma go out and play as hard as I can and do my best to represent, everybody that will represent."

Gilas Pilipinas will face the formidable New Zealand Tall Blacks for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on November 21, Thursday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.