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Boomers involved in wild basketball brawl

2018-07-03T07:00+10:00

UPDATE

NBL owner Larry Kestelman released the following statement:

“The NBL stands united with Basketball Australia in condemning the behaviour of players, officials and fans during the Boomers game against the Philippines in Manila last night.

“Our players need to accept responsibility for what happened on the court and any sanctions that follow. However we do not accept what happened on the sidelines when Australian players were attacked by fans and officials including a chair being thrown at one of the Boomers’ players Nathan Sobey and another player Chris Goulding set upon on the floor.

“This disgraceful behaviour needs to be dealt with by FIBA in the strongest possible manner and we will await the outcome of their investigation. We commend the restraint shown by our players and officials in the circumstances and we are working with Basketball Australia to facilitate the players’ return home in the quickest and safest way possible and protect their welfare.

“We are proud of the NBL’s well earned reputation as a family sport and we are thankful that this sort of behaviour is not a feature of Australian basketball. We have record participation levels, crowds and interest in basketball and we are committed to continuing to deliver a first class product all Australians can enjoy and be proud of.”

Thon Maker, who was involved in the fight, has also had his say on the incident.

EARLIER

Chairs were thrown, punches were thrown, elbows were thrown.

These are just some of the scenes that took place overnight, when an Australia v Philippines FIBA World Cup qualifier turned nasty, with a wild brawl breaking out between the two teams.

In the third quarter, with the Boomers leading 79-48, Melbourne United star Chris Goulding was floored by an elbow, before Australian teammate Daniel Kickert remonstrated with an elbow of his own.

From there, all hell broke loose, with the fight spilling off the court and into the crowd, with a multitude of other individuals getting involved.

The game continued after a long delay, with nine Filipino players ejected and four Australians. The Boomers ended up winning the game 89-53, with the match ending five-on-three.

WATCH THE INCIDENT BELOW

SEN contacted the Milwaukee Bucks, the team that employs Aussies Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker, but the NBA club declined to comment.

Goulding’s agent, Daniel Moldovan, provided an update on his client’s condition.

“He is a little bit bruised and battered but he is ok,” he told SEN Breakfast.

“He is a tough one, which is no surprise to any of us. He is shocked and appalled, as we all are, at what took place.

“The issue that I have, and the issue that everybody should have, is what took place from those not involved in the game.

“I have nothing that I’m going to comment on in regards to what led up to the fight, whether some of the Boomers were at fault or whether some of the Filipino players were at fault.

“What took place from those who flew off the bench, out of sight and out of mind, the team officials, managers, equipment guys, water boys, whoever they were, going in in the fashion that they did, that’s where I take serious offence to what took place.

“That’s where I want to see FIBA come down with a very very heavy hand.”

He also added “serious measures” will need to be put in place if one of his clients want to play basketball in the Philippines again.

LISTEN TO DANIEL MOLDOVAN’S CHAT ON SEN BREAKFAST IN THE PLAYER BELOW

Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore told SEN Breakfast they have been working closely with staff in the Philippines to ensure the players are safe. He says they will have the players out of the country this morning.

“Players and coaches were fearful of their physical safety,” Moore said.

“That’s how significant the issue was last night postgame. We have had nothing like this.

“There was nothing like that in the first half that even indicated that this is about to happen.

“This was ugly in an on court sense and then what occurred once it actually spilled into the side of the playing arena, where you’ve got security, you’re not quite sure what they were doing.”

LISTEN TO ANTHONY MOORE’S CHAT ON SEN BREAKFAST IN THE PLAYER BELOW

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