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Philippines vs Australia: Basketball World Cup qualifier highlights, scores, blog

2nd July, 2018

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Philippines vs Australia

2018 FIBA World Cup Qualifier, July 2. GAME ABANDONED

Philippine Arena, Philippines
Philippines Australia
53 SCORE 89
18 Q1 23
19 Q2 29
16 Q3 37
GAME Q4 ABANDON
Tip-off: 9:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Philippine Arena, Bulacan, Philippines
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Online: Live, Foxtel app or Foxtel now
Betting: Australia $1.85, Philippines $1.95

Philippines (expected)
Point guard: Jayden Castro
Shooting guard: Gabe Norwood
Small forward: Matthew Wright
Power forward: Japeth Aguilar
Centre: Andray Blatche
Bench: Jiovani Jalalon, Terrence Bill Romeo, Calvin Abueva, June Mar Fajardo, Roger Pay Pogoy, Jeth Rosario, Allein Malicsi

Australia (expected)
Point guard: Matthew Dellavedova
Shooting guard: Kevin Lisch
Small forward: Cameron Gliddon
Power forward: Thon Maker
Centre: Nick Kay
Bench: Daniel Kickert, Angus Brandt, Anthony Drmic, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Nathan Sobey, Chris Goulding
The Boomers will go into their first match at the Commonwealth Games as heavy favourites against Canada. (STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)
Expert
2nd July, 2018
170
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Match results:

Australia’s crucial clash at the top of Group B against the Philippines was abandoned with one minute to play in the third quarter, following a massive brawl between the two sides.

While Australia had dominated the game and walk away with the win, it won’t be the result which is remembered in the fallout.

Launched by a foul on Chris Goulding, Daniel Kickert threw an elbow into one of the host nation’s players and it errupted, with the bench clearing and an all-in brawl following. In one of the most baffling incidents ever seen on a basketball court, the referees would take 35 minutes to reach a verdict, with 13 players ejected in total – nine of them from the Philippines.

The game restarted with a five versus three situation, before the hosts quickly fouled themselves out to end the game with 11 minutes still to play.

Final score
Philippines – 53
Australia – 89

Match preview:

55,000 fans are expected to descend upon the Philippine Arena to watch the Philippines and Australia square off for a chance to top Group B in the first round of Basketball World Cup qualification. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9:30pm (AEST).

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While there is no pressure on this game in terms of qualifying for the second round of qualification, picking up the points for a win is still incredibly important.

All results earned in the first round are carried over to the second round of qualification, where no team will want to be starting from a backmarker, given only three of six teams in each second round group will move into the World Cup out of the Asian zone.

As it stands, Australia were on a roll, having won their first four games. After beating Chinese Taipei on the road, they then got the better of all three teams – with Japan the other – in their group at home.

This was always going to be the hardest window of matches for the Boomers though, with trips away to Japan and the Philippines just a few days apart. That’s exactly what it proved to be during the first of those matches on Friday night as well.

Instead of coming away with their fifth win in a row (and 16th in a row in total matches including the FIBA Asia Cup and friendlies), the Boomers were stunned by Japan.

Simply put, Australia were outplayed. Andrej Lemanis didn’t adjust his teams tactics to the Japanese onslaught, who had to win to stay in the hunt for a second-round berth.

While the final margin was only a point, this has the potential to be more, with the Philippines a better side and backed by a larger, more vocal crowd.

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Andray Blatche will be the key man for the Philippines, with the big centre causing problems for the Boomers in their last game played at the Margaret Court Arena.

The Philippines have also only lost one game in their qualification run (to Australia), after getting the better of Chinese Taipei away from home on Friday.

The solid 22-point victory came on the back of 12 rebounds and 13 points, but he was backed up strongly by Jayson Castro and June Fajardo, who both had big games.

Prediction
The Boomers shouldn’t lose two straight, but this is going to be easier said than done.

Australia by 2.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this all-important FIBA World Cup qualifier from 9:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.

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