Jordan Ngatai of New Zealand. Photo: David Rowland/www.photosport.nz
Captain Jordan Ngatai has led the Tall Blacks to their second win at the Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Ngatai scored 22 points as New Zealand beat the Philippines 94-86.
However, the Tall Blacks had to survive a 37-point explosion from Philippines power forward Justin Brownlie.
Ngatai hit seven of his eight field goal attempts including five from five from three point range, while Taylor Britt added 19 points and seven assists.
Flynn Cameron added 12 points.
Despite the onslaught from Brownlie, the Tall Blacks remained calm to remain unbeaten.
The Tall Blacks hit nine triples in the first half and carried a 55-41 lead into the break.
The Philippines closed to within three in the final quarter before Ngatai answered with his fifth triple and then the Tall Blacks defence held solid to close out the game.
"A really physical game, we never underestimated them and I think if we did it would have been a completely different story," said Ngatai.
"We didn't back down, we took it to them and guys stepped up and made big plays."
The Tall Blacks (2-0) will next face fellow unbeaten Chinese Taipei with the winner gaining an automatic spot in the quarter-finals.
The loser will go into a qualification game for the quarter-finals.
"These are the types of games that are going to help us prepare for what lies ahead, because every game from here on in is going to be just as hard, if not harder," said coach Judd Flavell.
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