FIBA opens disciplinary proceedings against Gilas, Australia after brawl

World basketball governing body FIBA will open disciplinary proceedings following the brawl that broke out between the Philippines and Australia in the Basketball World Cup qualifiers on Monday at Philippine Arena.

"The decision(s) will be communicated in the coming days," it announced in a tweet hours after the incident.

Nine Gilas Pilipinas players and four Boomers were thrown out of the game after the third quarter bench-clearing brawl.

The melee began at the 4:01 mark of the third quarter with Australia, 79-48, in control when Gilas Pilipinas guard Roger Pogoy and Boomers wingman Chris Goulding got tangled up on a drive.

Australia big man Daniel Kickert responded with a forearm on Pogoy, after which Jayson Castro hit Kickert.

All hell broke loose after that, with both teams getting in on the action.

After a lengthy delay, the referees announced that the following Gilas players were ejected:

• Terrence Romeo
• Carl Bryan Cruz
• Jayson Castro
• Calvin Abueva
• Andray Blatche
• Roger Pogoy
• Troy Rosario
• Japeth Aguilar
• Matthew Wright

That left just three players, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, and Baser Amer, to try to finish the game for Gilas.

Goulding, Maker, Kickert, and Nathan Sobey were ejected for Australia.

Fajardo and Norwood committed intentional fouls to get disqualified, forcing the referees to award the game to Australia, 89-53, at the 1:57 mark of the third period.

FIBA earlied sanctioned Gilas guard Kiefer Ravena for testing positive for prohibited substances. The NLEX stalwart received an 18-month ban from competition last month. —JST, GMA News