Longley blames PH coach for basketball brawl

somebody, put somebody on their arse."

Reyes has defended the comments, which were picked up by television microphones, as a routine instruction to his players to foul on fast breaks.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Longley rejected Reyes' comments and criticized the Philippines players for posing for a group selfie after the brawl had abated. Basketball Australia has sought to limit further comment on the brawl which is being investigated by world governing body FIBA.

But Longley was eager to speak, condemning what he called the "gangster" behavior of some Philippines players.

"I do believe their coach Chot Reyes incited them to come out and thug us," Longley said. "There's video evidence of that.

"Then he substituted a thug out there who took three or four cheap swings at (Goulding). This is out of the party line but I'm most disturbed with their head coach. I think he was embarrassed by the way his team was playing. I think he was embarrassed by the shape they were in. I think he was embarrassed by how they fought.

"He wouldn't look me in the eye at the end of the game when I shook his hand. I think he was embarrassed and that's where a lot of it came from. I'm upset with him more than anybody. To let his team take gangster selfies on the baseline after something like that, that shows a total lack of control and respect."

Longley said he felt he had no choice but to come off the bench to defend Goulding when he saw the Australian pinned under a pile of Philippines players.

"Those are the sorts of images you hope you never see, one guy lying on the ground covering up his head and being kicked and beaten by the other team, players and officials and guys from the crowd," he said. "It was horrifying. I wasn't supposed to come off the bench. It was really disturbing.

"I went onto the court to protect our guys, with the idea of not hurting anyone, just putting my big body in the way."

Basketball Australia was expected to make Goulding available to speak to reporters Wednesday but withdrew him, saying he would speak "at a better time."