FIBA suspends Gilas, Australian players for staging brawl

GILAS-AUSSIE BRAWL. A bench-clearing brawl ensued between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia in the third quarter of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on July 2. (Photo courtesy of Franchesca Nicole Collantes/Dugout Philippines)

MANILA — Ten Gilas players and three players from Australia got suspensions from FIBA as a result of the brawl that took place during their World Cup Qualifiers game at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue on July 2.

As released on Thursday, FIBA issued one-game ban to Gilas’ Japeth Aguilar and Matt Wright and Australia’s Chris Goulding.

Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Andray Blatche, and Troy Rosario were then slapped with three-game suspensions for Gilas alongside Australia’s Thon Maker.

RR Pogoy and Daniel Kickert, unsportsmanlike foul and ensuing retaliation sparked the brawl, were both slapped with a five-game ban along with Carl Cruz and Jio Jalalon.

Calvin Abueva was also issued a five-game ban for his part in the brawl, but due to a “prior unsportsmanlike behavior,” another one-game ban was slapped on him, making him ineligible to play for a total of six games.

Gilas head coach Chot Reyes and assistant coach Jong Uichico did not escape suspensions as well.

Reyes will be suspended for one game, while Uichico will miss three games.

The referees were also not spared from sanctions as FIBA suspended the three referees who officiated the said match for one year.(PNA)

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