BASKETBRAWL IN BOCAUE
— Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche, being held back by Australia’s Thon Maker (right) appears to measure the distance to Australia’s Daniel Kickert while Jayson Castro (partly hidden) connects with a leaping sucker punch as a free-for-all incident in the third quarter marred the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers game last night at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. The match was eventually cancelled after only one player was left in the Philippine side following the ejection of nine teammates and the fouling out of two others.
BOCAUE, Bulacan – A bench-clearing brawl marred last night’s FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia at the Philippine Arena here.
The fight occurred with 4:01 left in the third quarter and the Aussies enjoying a commanding 79-48 lead when Roger Pogoy was elbowed in apparent retaliation for an earlier hit by Boomers big man Daniel Kickert, triggering a freefor-all that drew Gilas players including those on the bench.
Gilas players Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Carl Bryan Cruz, Andray Blatche and Calvin Abueva landed blows on their Aussie counterparts while NBA player Thon Maker of the Boomers tried to land several flying kicks.
Japeth Aguilar’s father, former PBA player Peter Aguilar, was seen on video throwing a chair that hit one of the Australian players.
The crowd of at least 20,000 seemed to have savored the unpalatable occasion, blissfully unaware of the international embarrassment that could even lead to stiff punishments from world governing body FIBA upon thorough review.
A few fans threw water bottles during the fracas, prompting Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas resident Al Panlilio to later appeal for calm.
After a lengthy review by referees and match commissioner Fadi Adnan As’Ad Sabbah of Jordan outside of the playing venue, Romeo, Castro, Blatche, Abueva, Matthew Wright, Troy Rosario, Cruz, Pogoy and Aguilar were ejected for disqualifying fouls.
That left Gilas with only June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer to play the remainder of the match. Fajardo and Norwood fouled out in the next three minutes, prompting FIBA officials to end the game with less than two minutes left and Australia ahead 89-53.
Under FIBA rules, the game ends when a team is left with just one player on the court.
Kickert, Christopher Goulding Nathan Sobey and Maker were the Australian players tossed for their part in the fight.
Incidents marked two eventful days for the two teams, beginning with Australia removing advertising stickers in Sunday’s practice, a move that irked SBP officials led by chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan.
Australian officials later apologized but tension was already building prior to tipoff, per eyewitnesses. That set the stage for the eventful basketball match that simmered during the game and ultimately boiled over and turned a basketball match into a street fight.