JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – New Zealand sealed a flawless group phase at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 with an emphatic 118-78 victory over Chinese Taipei on Friday in Group D action at the King Abdullah Sports City, locking in their place in the Quarter-Finals with a 3-0 record.
Flynn Cameron shone with 28 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 three-pointers, while Mojave King added 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and four triples in a balanced Tall Blacks attack that saw four players reach double-figures. The Hinton brothers led Chinese Taipei with a combined 40 points points and six triples, but the team could not sustain their early fight against New Zealand’s relentless pace and physicality.
The opening quarter was a tightly contested affair, featuring seven lead changes in the first ten minutes. Hu Long-Mao’s opening triple was quickly answered by King, and both sides traded baskets and stops in a high-energy stretch. Flynn Cameron provided an instant spark off the bench with strong drives, while Adam Hinton and Brandon Gilbeck combined for key buckets to keep Taipei ahead briefly. Taylor Britt’s late free-throws edged New Zealand in front 19-18 at the first break.
The game shifted decisively in the second quarter. Britt’s penetration repeatedly broke down the Taipei defense, and the Tall Blacks began finding their range from outside. Carlin Davison’s putback slam ignited a run, followed by triples from Tohi Smith-Milner and Cameron that pushed the lead into double-digits. Smith-Milner struck again from deep in the final minute of the half, capping a stretch where New Zealand’s defense smothered Taipei’s rhythm and forced rushed shots. A 30-point quarter sent the Tall Blacks into halftime up 49-35.
Chinese Taipei briefly threatened after the break, with Robert Hinton hitting back-to-back triples to cut the margin to 54-42. But the Tall Blacks answered with a decisive 12-3 run, fueled by King’s perimeter shooting and Cameron’s steady mid-range scoring. A Taine Murray triple and a lob finish from King extended the lead past 25 points, and Gold added a three-pointer of his own to stamp New Zealand’s authority. By the end of the third, the scoreboard read 84-59, and the result was beyond doubt.
The fourth quarter saw New Zealand maintain their control, keeping the lead comfortably above 28 while continuing to share the scoring load. Taipei found occasional success through Robert Hinton and Gao Jinwei from beyond the arc, but the Tall Blacks’ depth and size kept them from mounting any serious comeback.
New Zealand’s combination of rebounding dominance, efficient outside shooting and balanced offense proved too much for a Taipei side that had impressed in its first two games.
"We feel great," said Taylo Britt post-game. "I guess our job for the pool is accomplished. We really wanted to get that win, get top of the pool. It makes a big difference getting a couple of days off. So yeah, we are really happy with the result."
The win sends the Tall Blacks directly to the last eight, avoiding the Qualification to Quarter-Finals round. Chinese Taipei, finishing 2-1 in Group D, will now regroup for that Final Phase with hopes of keeping their FIBA Asia Cup campaign alive.
FIBA