No extra five minutes were needed this time for New Zealand.

A quick nine-point spurt by the Tall Blacks to start the game took Syria to the corner for a merciless 126-74 beating as the Kiwis completed a sweep of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers fourth window on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tall Blacks never gave the Syrians an inch right from the get-go as they improved to a 6-2 carryover win-loss record in Group E for a provisional solo second spot.

New Zealand strung its sixth straight victory and solidified its position to earn a ticket to the main draw in Qatar next year.

“I think we started off great at the start of the game,” Tall Blacks head coach Judd Flavell said.

The Kiwis were unstoppable in the opening period and opened a 65-43 advantage by halftime.

Although Flavell felt Syria had given his squad resistance in the first two frames behind James Justice, the difference in the two teams’ level of competitiveness was too obvious.

“We probably took the foot off the pedal in some respects. Syria did a good job of just making it a ball game in that first half. We sort of challenged the group, challenged each other at halftime, just what can we do in this third quarter just to really put our stamp, our mark on the game,” Flavell said.

New Zealand erected its biggest lead at 53 after Flyn Cameron nailed a jumper for a 113-60 separation, with five minutes left in the game.

Corey Webster led five other Tall Blacks in double-figure scoring with 22 points.

Cameron had 21, Sam Mennenga scored 20, Reuben Te Rangi and Sam Waardenburg finished with 13 each while Carl Davison had 10 for the Kiwis, who barely escaped Iran, 93-91, in overtime last Friday.

New Zealand will try to make it seven in a row in the fifth window against Jordan on 27 November.

Syria suffered a third straight setback and second severe whipping following a 64-123 humiliation at the hands of unbeaten Australia last Friday.

With a 2-6 slate, the Syrians are now on the brink of missing the World Cup cut.

Justice was the lone Syria player in double figures with 22 points and had five rebounds.

The Syrians face Gilas Pilipinas in the next window on 27 November.