FIBA suspends 10 Gilas players, 2 coaches for brawl with Australia

The FIBA Disciplinary Panel announced its decision to suspend 10 Filipino players and 2 coaches on Thursday, while also metting fines and sanctions on the Philippine and Australian national teams.

In a statement, FIBA bared that it launched a disciplinary proceeding after the game, referring the matter to its Disciplinary Panel.

The following players are suspended from playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers for unsportsmanlike behavior:

• Calvin Abueva (6 games, due also to prior unsportsmanlike behavior in a FIBA competition)
• Roger Pogoy, Carl Cruz and Jio Jalalon (5 games each);
• Terence Romeo, Jayson Castro William, Andray Blatche and Jeth Rosario (3 games each);
• Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright (1 game each);

No sanction was imposed on Gabe Norwood.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said it currently does not have a list of possible replacements for the suspended players.

Gilas assistant coach Joseph Uichico was also  suspended for 3 games for unsportsmanlike behavior, while head coach Vincent ‘Chot’ Reyes was suspended for 1 game.

Reyes is also mandated to pay a disciplinary fine of CHF 10,000 (about P534,888.31) for inciting unsportsmanlike behavior.

FIBA has also suspended the officiating crew of the game.

Meanwhile, three Australian players were also suspended: 

• Daniel Kickert (5 games)
• Thon Maker (3 games)
• Chris Goulding (1 game)

No sanctions were imposed on Nathan Sobey and Jason Cadee.

Basketball Australia was also mandated to pay a disciplinary fine of CHF 100,000 (about P5,353,121.59) “for the unsportsmanlike behavior of its players and for abusing and/or tampering of equipment, after having removed floor stickers from the court on the eve of the game.”

Even the referees who officiated the controversial game did not escape sanctions.

In its official release, FIBA said referees Ahmed Al Bulushi of Oman, Hatim Alharbi of Saudia Arabia, and Paul Skayem of Lebanon will be removed from the FIBA Elite Program, and will not be allowed to officiate FIBA-sanctioned events for one year. — LA/RSJ, GMA News