Basketbrawl fallout
BASKETBALL Australia is unlikely to appeal FIBA bans handed down to three players — Daniel Kickert, Thon Maker and Chris Goulding — for their roles in the ugly brawl with the Philippines in the World Cup qualifier in Manila on July 2.
Kickert, who sparked the fracas with his stray elbow, was hardest hit, suspended for five internationals and won’t be available for the Boomers until next February.
Milwaukee Bucks star Maker copped a three-match sanction while Goulding was unlucky to be outed for one match given he was set upon by multiple Philippines players and staff.
The game’s governing body FIBA also rubbed out 10 Philippines players for a total of 35 games, an assistant coach got a three-game ban, while head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes was suspended for one game and fined.
The heaviest penalties were handed to Calvin Abueva (six games, due to prior offences), and Roger Pogoy and Carl Cruz (both five games).
The Philippines was fined $A337,000 and also ordered to play one home game behind closed doors and be on probation for the next three years. Basketball Australia must also pay a disciplinary fine of 100,000 Swiss francs ($135,000) for removing floor decals during training on the day prior to the game and its role in the third-quarter incident.
In a surprise move, FIBA also suspended the match officials for 12 months. BA has 14 days to decide whether to appeal the sanctions, however chief executive Anthony Moore said that was unlikely to happen.
“It’s unlikely we will do that, although it’s something that will be a conversation with the Players’ Association and the players,” Moore said yesterday.
“Thon is in transit so we will be talking to his agent in the US. It’s something we will address in the coming 24 hours.”
BA may also impose its own penalties following a review although they could be concurrent.
Kickert put out a statement through his NBL side the Sydney Kings, accepting his penalty.
While Goulding appeared to be collateral damage in the brawl, Moore said he was found guilty of “inciting unsportsmanlike behaviour”.
“The findings of the panel were that throughout the game there was some niggle between Chris and a couple of players and FIBA took the view that that perhaps contributed to the third quarter incident,” Moore said.
“Given everything we saw with Chris under the basket with 20 players on that’s a little tough to swallow and that’s a conversation we will have as a board tomorrow and with Chris.”
Moore said FIBA findings made no mention of any racist remarks made by the Australian camp, as alleged by a Philippines-based photojournalist.
“It was proven to be absolutely baseless,” Moore said.
“It was something from a BA perspective we take incredibly seriously.”
Australia and the Philippines are not scheduled to meet again unless they face each other at the FIBA World Cup or the next Asia Cup.