Thon Maker and Daniel Kickert might be looking at time on the sidelines, but if FIBA are serious about protecting the game, the Philippines coach will be banned for life and the team thrown out of the 2019 World Cup qualifiers.
I had to watch it again this morning just to confirm it was real. The actions which went down in the Philippines last night during Australia’s World Cup qualifier against the nation were utterly deplorable and disgusting.
It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen on any sporting field or court. Simply unbelievable.
Let me get one thing very clear. The cheap shot from Daniel Kickert doesn’t leave Australia totally guilt-free out of the scenes in Manila.
The game was physical all the way and always going to explode at some point, but it should never have gotten to the point it did.
But what happened next was out of control.
The Philippines rushing the floor like they did from the bench, a chair being thrown at Nathan Sobey and Chris Goulding finding himself after what was a ten-man pile is simply outrageous.
If some of these actions happened in the street, they would end up in court.
It’s a blight on the sport of basketball and has unsurprisingly made headlines around the world. With nine ejections, the game then finished in laughable circumstances as five on three became five on two, then five on one which ended the game a whole 11 minutes early.
The aftermath to the incredible scenes near Manila has begun overnight, with FIBA launching disciplinary action, coach Chot Reyes defending the actions of his players and Filipino guard Terrence Romeo joining the circus with a tweet.
The translation goes something like this.
“To my fellow Filipino players who say we’re embarrassing. I don’t give a f***. Us teammates inside have to help. We can’t let them be on their own. If we’re embarrassing in your eyes why don’t you become an Australian”
The Filipino coach was the only one who fronted the media after the game, squarely pointing the finger at Daniel Kickert for his supposed antics during the warm-up and again during the game.
Yet, it was coach Reyes who sparked it when he told his team to ‘hit somebody. put somebody on their arse’ in a timeout just moments before the wild scenes.
The fact they can even try to defend what went down though is ridiculous, and shows they didn’t have a care in the world. To watch the Filipino team standing around while the referees reached their verdict, taking a team selfie and laughing about the incident while the Aussies stood there looking bewildered proved they thought it was one big joke.
While FIBA should clamp down hard on the hosts, leaving their coach without a job and most of their team suspended for the next 12 months – at a minimum – the Aussies will more or less get off.
It took incredible restraint and some brilliant experience and leadership from Matthew Dellavedova and coaching staff member Luc Longley to hold their players back from joining in, as the whole Philippines bench emptied.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
It turned the brawl into a 20 (maybe more) on five situation, with only Thon Makers running kicks stopping the Aussies from being completely overwhelmed. If the Australian bench had of emptied, it’s almost guaranteed the situation would have been even more ugly.
Maker himself may well be suspended from the NBA for a period of time under article 35 of the constitution, which allows the league to suspend players for “conduct that does not conform to standards of morality [or] does not comply with all federal, state, and local laws…or is detrimental to the NBA.”
Regardless, it’s unlikely the Milwaukee Bucks or any other NBA club will be willing to let their prized cargo go for any more World Cup qualifiers in the off-season, which is a massive problem for international basketball.
The reaction from Basketball Australia has been completely different to that of their opponents. BA offered an official apology last night and will conduct their own internal investigation, with no one trying to defend the actions on court.
It’s time we started doing exactly that though. There could have been a riot if that fight went on much longer, with fans jumping in from the crowd as it was, adding to the numbers game facing the Australians.
Given the circumstances, the Boomers handled it as well as could have been expected, and while Kickert’s cheap shot may have sparked it, the foul on Goulding caused him to react in the first place. The fact no Australian player came out of it with an injury is staggering.
The reaction was over the top and stupid, but it doesn’t compare to anything the Philippines did in the following minutes. Or indeed the following half hour as the hosts laughed and joked about it, while the visitors immediately understood the severity of it.
The other question regarding the Philippines is their suitability to co-host the 2023 Basketball World Cup. It’s already been announced they will share duties alongside Japan and Indonesia.
After the reaction from fans and coaching staff, as well as authorities last night, it’s a question FIBA may need to adress in the coming months.
Regardless, there won’t be any international friendlies played between these two sides in the next decade.
It’s unlikely we will ever see anything this wild on a basketball court again.
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Jan Sabi
Guest
When you think you are tough and acting like you are the king of the hill, be prepared to kill and be killed for it esp when you go to a foreign a land esp in Asia(Remember Vietnam War-though it's not basketball but this analogy is close to that). Goulding was just fouled of an offensive foul(with flop from him) during an ongoing game while facing Pogoy and guarding him and then a whistle. Kickert overreacted with a vicious elbow from a blindside on a DEADBALL situation. As a host nation, what will you do? or what do you expect? If this was in Australia? what will the Aussies do????? I know the answer...probably much worst and I'll understand eventhough I'm not an Aussie. I think even if the host nation is China, Japan Korea or anywhere will have the same result/brawl consequences. A friend told me that if this happened in Mexico he said probably somebody will be dead or in the hospital. And he said the Philippine reactions still lame and less aggressive compare to what will happen if it's in Mexico, middle east or maybe even down under. You gonna ask what about if the Filipinos played in Australian venue like Sydney? what's gonna happen? I'll say this with 100% conviction the Aussies will have no problem of reacting like this 'coz the filipinos will respect their host will know to put themselves rightfully. They will never do what Kickert do like a coward hitting somebody from a blindside viciously on a deadball situation coz they know the reactions will be overwhelming. But Kickert and some Aussie players thought they can maintain their thuggish attitudes anytime anywhere because they think they are above the law or above to any third world monkeys(whom they called the filipinos during the game), guess what? you deserved what you got and you must be grateful that the filipinos reactions still soft and lame. It would be more embarrassing to the filipinos if nobody did something to Kickert . Now Kickert and Goulding why were you running like a dog with its tail between his legs? I thought you Aussies are tough as nails? So you realized you were wrong and anywhere in the world when you are wrong from the beginning the outcome is always the same---you are at the losing end like America during the Vietnam war---you may won some battles(like winning the game itself) but you lost the war(the brawl that Kickert was asking, you must be thankful the Filipinos are polite people so you only get half of their brunt , if not somebody migth had been in the hospital or six feet below the ground). Kickert opened the Pandora's box that he could not close back nor his teammates and coaches. If you are an asshole in your country then don't act it out in a foreign land for you might not come back alive or in one piece. Just my 2 cents.
IMO
Guest
You would have to be living in denial land if you don't think Kickerts blatant and intentional attack on the Filipino player didn't start the brawl. The Filipino player was dumb and aggressive in his own charge but Kickert intentionally forearmed a player to the throat with brutal force. Both teams should be stood down it was a disgrace and both teams are guilty of assault.
Unbiased
Guest
If you’re not biased check out newmatilda.com article by Chris Graham- “I Call Bullsh*t On Australia Claiming Victim Status In Philippines Basketball Brawl” to see a different perspective.
KeeeWeeeUK
Guest
Could you stop spreading fake news @blacklizted. Prove anywhere Aussie said a racist slur? There was a disgusting fake tweet put out after the brawl trying to frame the Aussie player who got knocked down in the first place. It was proven false and anyone trying to incite racial hatred is flat out wrong. Now here's the PH coach telling them to smash the Aussie team just before it happens, link here... https://twitter.com/ajwise85/status/1013774910651445248?s=21 And what you mention in your comment is flat out wrong as the real story is "a Filipino player is seen putting his leg out to trip Daniel Kickert" first, link here... https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/basketball/australia-vs-philippines-brawl-newly-reviewed-vision-shows-altercation-in-warmups/news-story/95727f0e3ad79ed12eb4586507393e0a?__twitter_impression=true As for the PH group selfie, it was actual cringe. Lost by 30 points. Got into a fight where the PH strategy was cheap shots and gang-ups. Apparently Aussie pulled up some stickers they deemed slippery in their preps, how dare they!!!!! Never nice to see this escalation of violence and seeing people being punched from behind and having 15 men on 1 is cowardly, I wonder if Aussie will press police charges to those who were not in the PH team? IMHO they may have a good case. I know a lot of very nice and polite Filipino people but anyone defending what the PH team did is just plain wrong and sad really. Aussie team may have a few players banned a few matches, and rightly so, but the PH team needs to be taught that this is not how professionals should behave in any sport. As for their management who threw cowardly punches, keep them far away from this great sport.
Maddison
Guest
Ban the Phillipines team for 12 months, have their coach and their officials banned for life. But also have the Phillipines disqualified. They shouldnt be allowed to play
mushi
Roar Guru
And that's quality typing! I think the roar have turned the edit function off on me on purpose :)
mushi
Roar Guru
You're right there is no strength in doing the right thing. Let's get on down to their level! That si rela strength and resilency right there
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
If I rolled my eyes any harder at your comments I’m afraid they’d pop out of my head.
Blacklizted
Guest
They can ban both teams. PH in 2019 and AUS permanently for not being truly asian.
Blacklizted
Guest
There was a video of Kickert pushing someone really hard for stepping inside their half of the court during warm ups. I think without that incident, the Philippine players' patience would've been extended by a few more hard fouls and racial slurs being thrown at them.
Skelly
Guest
Unfortunately not going to happen, SBP holds FIBA by its balls. The harshest punishment FIBA could give was suspensions on the players involved.
anon
Roar Pro
Australia didn't start a fight. One of our player's retaliated to a cheap off the ball flagrant foul with a deserved forearm to the face. You disrespect and antagonise an opponent so brazenly in a lopsided match you're going to get a reaction if the opponents have any self respect. No man should cop a cheap shot. It's called standing up for yourself. How were we to know that they would react by pinning one of our guys to the ground and have a dozen people kick, punch and smash him with a steel chair.
CN
Guest
What does that have to do anything?
CN
Guest
It's a pretty dumb idea to start a fight with someone in any foreign country.
Nic Craig
Roar Rookie
I hope so, the Philippines whole team and coaches and the umpires who let them free to king hit, kick, throw chairs and then still stand to take happy snaps on court after they all brutally set up the Australian players, who were left defenseless after the Australian bench was held back.
Nic Craig
Roar Rookie
This is in no way Australia's fault. They were set upon by the entire Philippines bench with thuggery and violence I have never seen anywhere before. The Australian bench was held back from wading in to help protect their fellow team mates from the brutal violence subjected to them from the disgraceful Philippines team, who had the sickening disrespect to stand for selfies as it was a moment to remember fondly, not one of the darkest days of sport, that they were responsible for!
Glen
Guest
For me: Kikkert and Maker. Banned for the next two international matches. Philippines - ejected from WC Qualifiers and banned from hosting international matches for 12 months. Philippines coach - 12 month ban Philippines players involved in punches 6-12 month bans based on severity Philippines players involved in Goulding pack assault banned for life from international Philippines officials who threw punches or chairs etc banned for life
Lionheart
Guest
match officials need to be sanctioned too - from those who are responsible for stickers on the floor, to the pre-match warm up areas to the actual match - seems a lot was let go for too long.
Geoff Dustby
Guest
flagrant foul, followed by the bench throwing handbags. who tripped in the warm up? you lost by 30!
comm wall
Guest
both teams must take responsibility for what they did. both have to take the blame. both teams did not conduct themselves properly the way the should.. both teams are embarrassing..