The fallout from Monday night’s punch-up between Australia and the Philippines is only just beginning, with FIBA launching disciplinary action into both teams, but Australian big man Thon Maker has released an excellent statement following the incident.
Maker was heavily involved in just his second game for the national team, before the match break down into an flat out brawl with punches, cheap shots and chairs being thrown by players, as well as fans, media and officials of the home side.
The South Sudanese-born Australia, who went number ten in the 2016 NBA draft for the Milwaukee Bucks was seen running in and out of the brawl, delivering a series of running kicks to the opposition – although to be fair, none of them connected.
Makers statement was an excellent one, talking about how basketball has played a part in his life, and how this incident should act as a discussion point for security.
With fans becoming involved in the incident, the statement will hit home with Australian basketball fans.
“I am deeply disappointed in the actions displayed during yesterday’s game against the Philippines,” said the statement released by Maker.
“Being from a war-torn country, basketball for me has always been a means to bring people together. I feel a great responsibility as an NBA player to carry myself in a way that promotes peace and unity.
“My hope is that this experience provides a springboard for discussion regarding the security surrounding these games.
“I take responsibility for my actions knowing that they were a result of my desire to proptect my teammates and myself.
“It is a tremendous honour to represent Australia, the Milwaukee Bucks and the NBA and my goal is to reflect that in my conduct and play.”
Australia’s national league, the NBL has also released a statement from executive chairman Larry Kestleman.
“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,” said the statement.
“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.”
Jett Hatton
Roar Pro
Lets be honest, all that is going to happen is a small fine and a slap on the wrist.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Kickert deserves a big punishment, Maker is blameless but will still get punished. Phillipines players for piling ontop and gang bashing on one player , thats in the worst category. Longley doesn;t deserve any credit, all he did was leave Goulding to the dogs, they could have easily bashed him to death in the time they had., no need to join in the fight but at least shield your player.
SAVAGE
Guest
Agreed. No time to think about the right and wrong of it all, get in there and protect each other, worry about the BS later.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
To be fair (though we shouldn't have to be given what took place), I have seen posts from a few Philippines players apologising to Australia. So I don't think the above from Swampy is entirely true. I agreed with your summation above, though if the penalties against the Philippines players was slightly stronger, I would see that as appropriate. Honestly, they couldn't shock me with suspensions that were too long. Re Maker - I do think his flying kicks were not really kicks and it was more a get away from me style kick/jump. If he had wanted to, he could have landed that second kick on the opponent (who hit him in the back of the head) below the knee and it would have snapped his leg in half. So if he wanted to do damage, he could have.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agreed - and other than that all he did was hold people back or keep away.
jameswm
Roar Guru
They think they're not at fault? At all?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Exactly. The first one wasn't really even a kick. One of his teammates had about 3 packwolves on him, and he cleared them out. He then charged at another with a kick that didn't connect, and kept away. he was also holding back a big Philippines centre. He gets maybe 1 or 2 games, maybe not. Kickert delivered a forearm to the face - a couple of games for that. And that's it. The Philippine coach gets 2-3 years, their bench players several games, anyone throwing punches or chairs several games, and the federation booted out for a year, and removed as hosts for 2023 WCs.
Nic Craig
Roar Rookie
100% right. To have the Philippines or anyone for that matter blaming the Australian's for anything that happened is beyond disgraceful. To people saying that: Have You Seen The Footage?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, from what I saw in the footage it looked more like a "get away from me" move than any attempt to actually hit anyone.
Lionheart
Guest
Maker's so called kicks look more like little jumps, no intent at all to damage or hurt.
neostars
Roar Rookie
Whatever Man. It was a hostile environment, his teammates were getting smashed and all he did was try to PROTECT THEM and himself. It easy to sit behind a keyboard and talk about what right to do blah blah blah. His first action was jumping in to stop the Black dude who just punched an Aussie player. 2nd was retaliation for being punched behind the head. ALL IT WAS, WAS PROTECTING HIS TEAMMATES AND SELF DEFENSE.
Brendon
Guest
Hah. Knew you were one of the people who would have got all upset about Steve Smith and David Warner. Predictable about your views on this. My advice is stop following sports and take up another interest.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Whatever man. Maker will probably get a couple games. Kickert more than a couple. The Philippines side may well get kicked out altogether. Disgraceful scenes.
anon
Roar Pro
Maker did the absolute right thing to get involved and helping out. Without our players and Longley intervening the outcome might have been far worse for the player being held to the ground as he was hit with a steel chair and punched and kicked repeatedly by a dozen Filipinas. He was also sucker punched in the back of the head from behind which caused him to understandably retaliate against the Filipina who threw the coward punch.
Swampy
Guest
There's been plenty of fights in the past in basketball and if it had ended when maker and kickert ran back towards the Australian bench then we would be talking a few games for maker and quite a few for kickert. A few of the Filipinos would be also suspended for throwing punches and leaving the bench. But what happened after that is the true disgrace where players, officials and spectators from the Philippines set upon a player on the ground (goulding) who hadn't thrown any punches at all. 12 on 1. This is a shame on the nation of the Philippines and a black mark on the sport of basketball forever. I'm more than OK with FIBA handing Australia sanctions for their part but the Philippines need to be booted from the sport. They have disgraced the game of basketball and sport in general with their actions. Nothing less than a two year suspension from international competition will suffice. The 2023 world's should be stripped. And good luck ever getting any NBA players to play any sort of exhibition in the country in the next few years. Only Filipinos believe they are not at fault here. The rest of the world sees what happened clear as day.
rolland
Guest
If your honor is to reflect that in you conduct of play then you failed miserably to go in their and being involved is unacceptable to delivering a series of running kicks to the opposition is unacceptable under any circumstances go in and pull your opponents off your team mates by all means try and diffuse the situation by all means but anything else is not acceptable .its not for a player to retaliate its for a referee/umpire/oficials to judicate . sack the lot of them .its an honour to wear the green and gold just like the cricketers you have brought shame on your country and every player involved should be banned from playing at international level for a year at least or is basketball Australia as gutless as cricket Australia .this sports reputation has been shot to pieces.