Basketball brawl a huge disgrace

THE Filipino Basketball fiasco has been well documented and spoken about throughout the sporting world.

What took place was sickening, deplorable and a disgrace.

From the very first tip-off, the FIBA World Cup qualifier was a powder keg waiting to explode in a country that is noted for its over zealous sports passion.

The first two quarters of the game would have had basketball fans in a state of shock and disbelief that FIBA officials and the referees could allow such unchecked physical clashes, and the antics of the Filipino coach, take place.

As it turned out, it was a recipe for disaster. This was not how basketball is played or should be played.

Filipino coach (Reyes) took on a personal crusade, inciting the 55,000 plus crowd with his arm waving and court intrusions with every call, questioning and gesturing to the referees in a very intimidating way.

Continually, he whipped his players and the crowd into a frenzy with his antics.

He was derelict in his duties as coach and should have been ejected from the game at that point.

But what did occur was complete mayhem. The Australian Boomers were ‘bit players’ in a scenario of what will go down in basketball history in Australia and Asia as the darkest moment for the sport.

Aussie Boomer Chis Goulding was taken out with a sickening charge, slamming him to the floor.

Boomer Daniel Kickert did what every teammate in any sport would do when he interjected with the offender.

In hindsight, it was far too physical and he should have been ejected from the game, along with the Filipino offender. That would have been the normal action and the game would have continued.

But what took place next was horrifying and sheer madness. The entire Filipino bench players, coaching staff, and even the crowd, spilled onto the court.

Kicking, punching and chairs being used to assault the Australian players, in what was a maiming and life threatening few minutes.

Don’t blame the Boomer players or their coaching staff. The bench players remained off the court, as did the coaching staff and it was only the towering figure of former NBA player Luc Longley that shielded Aussie players from more harm.

What FIBA do now in the wash-up will be interesting, with the world of basketball looking on.

There is damning recorded evidence. The lead up to the incident is just as important as the incident itself.

If they get it right, the damage to the integrity of the sport will be tolerable with time.

But if they get it wrong, it could destroy basketball in Asia, and have ramifications throughout the sporting world. They must come down hard and their actions need to be swift and accountable.

PETER ROOKAS, Toowoomba