BOCAUE, Bulacan — FIBA has opened disciplinary hearings against Australia and the Philippines after a wild brawl broke out in their World Cup qualifier.
A total of 13 players were ejected after the melee that began in the third quarter of Australia's 89-53 victory following a collision in the lane. The game continued with just three players for Gilas Piliponas.
Anthony Moore, chief executive of Australian basketball, apologized to fans in a statement, adding that "this is not the spirit in which sport should be played and certainly not in the spirit in which we aim to play basketball."
FIBA says a decision will be announced in the coming days.
“Basketball Australia deeply regrets the incident in tonight’s match between the Boomers and the Philippines in Manila. We are extremely disappointed with what happened and our role in it,” the Aussie statement read.
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