PBA commish to summon Gilas players, coaches
The national basketball federations of the Philippines and Australia apologized for their roles in a brawl that marred their FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers held Monday night at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) came up with a statement Tuesday afternoon, hours after its Australian counterpart Basketball Australia held a press conference in Brisbane to shed light on the fight that occurred with 4:01 left in the third quarter of the final first round match of the qualifiers.
World governing body FIBA said late Monday that it had began its disciplinary proceedings to shed light on what transpired in the event considered as one of the worst in recent basketball memory.
“The SBP apologizes to Filipino basketball fans and to the basketball community for the incident that occurred during (Monday’s) game,” the SBP said. “As hosts, we regret having breached the bounds of traditional Filipino hospitality. As a national team representing flag and country, we likewise extend our apologies to the Filipino people.
“SBP stands by its conviction that violence has no place in sports. We will review the incident comprehensively and await the decision of FIBA with respect to disciplinary proceedings on the matter,” the SBP added.
Basketball Australia chief executive Anthony Moore also sent his regrets during the morning presser, but rued some of the actions made by Gilas players and their supporters.
“We deeply regret the incident that occurred (Monday) and our role in it,” Moore said. “It is something that we don’t play in that spirit.
“While we accept our responsibility for our role in the incident, what we don’t accept is the action where fans and actually officials were involved in the fray,” Moore added.
Moore was perhaps referring to several stages of the fight that included Japeth Aguilar’s father, Peter Aguilar, Gilas pool member Jio Jalalon and assistant coach Jong Uichico.
The elder Aguilar was caught throwing a chair at an Aussie player, Jalalon threw a straight right at Nathan Sobey while the usually-calm Uichico was one of many who landed haymakers at a fallen Chris Goulding.
Uichico was later remorseful of his part in the fracas, saying: “My emotions got the better of me like a father who cares about his sons. That does not excuse my actions and I apologize to everyone in hindsight I should have not gotten involved. This is a painful but maybe lesson for me.”
Former Gilas player Marc Pingris also came under fire for taking a selfie with the team minutes after the brawl happened. Pingris eventually apologized early Tuesday but Moore considered it as rather “odd” and “strange.”
But several Gilas players, including coach Chot Reyes, defended the team’s decision to engage in a rumble with the Aussies, citing Boomers big man Daniel Kickert’s action before tipoff where he was accused of hitting opposing players during pre-game warmups.
“I don’t know if he was trying to get into our minds, if he was trying to start something,” Reyes said. “Whatever his motive is, there was no excuse for him doing what he did during the warmup. Nakakita na ba kayo na tinira yung kalaban sa warm-up? Hindi pa naguumpisa tinira na tayo. What do you expect us to do?”
Meanwhile, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is scheduled to summon Gilas members Thursday at the league office in Libis to see whether if the pro league will hand its own sanctions. Marcial also invited league chairman and Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas and SBP president Al Panlilio to attend the closeddoor meeting.