SBP saddened by FIBA sanctions but vows to do better — Sonny Barrios
THE much- awaited decision by world basketball governing body FIBA on the melee that happened between the Philippines and Australia on July 2 during the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers final came out last Thursday ( Manila time), that had the organization meting out heavy fines and suspensions to the parties involved.
In the decision, the FIBA Disciplinary Panel, after thorough evaluation of the incident, decided to impose fines and other sanctions on the national federations of the Philippines and Australia over the brawl that erupted in the third quarter of their qualifier game that led to the abrupt ending of said match, apart from handing down suspensions to 13 players and two coaches.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the country’s basketball federation, was asked to pay a disciplinary fine of 250,000 Swiss francs ( roughly P13.4 million) over “the unsportsmanlike behavior of its delegation members and of its public, as well as for insufficient organization of the game.”
In a press conference held at the PLDT headquarters in Makati following the release of the FIBA decision, SBP officials lamented the sanctions and fines given to it, believing that the group did its best in organizing the game until the unfortunate incident happened, but nonetheless manning up to it and vowing to do better in its next hosting duties.
“We’re definitely saddened by it [decision] that they are looking at it that way. But we fully support FIBA with its decision. We’re not wavering in our support to it. We accept whatever decision they have come up with on the particular case,” said SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios when asked by BusinessWorld on how the SBP was viewing the decision of FIBA to sanction them.
“It is something, I personally, am not happy about. In SBP we always try to give our best. In fact, just a few weeks before [the incident] FIBA commended us for the excellent hosting of the FIBA 3X3 World Cup. They even came out with a release about it. So for them to say that on this one we fell short it is something we don’t like to hear. That’s how the ball bounces so to speak. We’ll have to do better next time around,” he added.
The next home game of the Philippines in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers will be against Qatar on Sept. 17 which will be played behind closed doors as directed by FIBA and part of the sanctions given to the national team and federation.
Also part of the FIBA decision was the suspension of Gilas players Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright (one game each); Terence Romeo, Jayson Castro William, Andray Blatche and Troy Rosario ( three games each); Roger Pogoy, Carl Bryan Cruz and Jio Jalalon ( five games each); and Calvin Abueva (six games) for their involvement in the melee.
Gilas assistant coach Joseph Uichico was suspended for three games for unsportsmanlike behavior while head coach Vincent ‘Chot’ Reyes was suspended for one game and asked to pa a disciplinary fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (P534,900) for “inciting unsportsmanlike behavior.”
On the part of Australia, players Chris Goulding (one game), Thon Maker (three games) and Daniel Kickert (five games) were suspended for unsportsmanlike behavior.
Basketball Australia was asked to pay a disciplinary fine of 100,000 Swiss francs (roughly P5.3 million) for the unsportsmanlike behavior of its players and for abusing and/or tampering of equipment, after having removed floor stickers from the court on the eve of the game.
FIBA said money from the fines will be used to support the “Basketball for Good” social program launched by the International Basketball Foundation (IBF).