Australia and Philippines sorry for mass brawl chaos in Malina
By Associated Press
Last Updated: 20/07/18 11:26am
Australia and the Philippines apologised on Thursday for bringing basketball into "disrepute" with a massive on-court melee between players, fans and officials during a World Cup qualifier.
Australia were comfortably leading 79-48 in the third quarter when Philippines guard Roger Ray Pogoy lashed out at Australia's Chris Goulding with an elbow.
Australian Daniel Kickert's retaliation on Pogoy sparked a mass brawl with players and officials from both sides, plus a number of fans, flooding the court during the ugly scenes in Manila.
However, the two nations' basketball associations released a joint statement which read: "We wish to apologise to the entire basketball community - and in particular to our fantastic fans."
The apology cited "the behaviour displayed by both teams and for bringing the game of basketball into disrepute."
The game stopped for more than half an hour as the officials tried to get a handle on the situation and when play eventually resumed the Philippines were only able to field three players against Australia's five.
Basketball's governing body FIBA has opened disciplinary proceedings against both teams after the melee, where players and officials kicked and pounded a prone Australian player with both sides eventually getting involved.
