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          Social media reaction to Gilas-Boomers brawl

          • Jan Ballesteros
          Jul 2, 2018, 02:45 PM

          BOCAUE, Bulacan -- A fight resulting in 13 ejections broke out during the game between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia at the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday.

          Things turned ugly with 4:01 remaining in the third period after Roger Pogoy shoved Aussie veteran Chris Goulding with Australia leading, 79-48.

          Daniel Kickert connected with an elbow to Pogoy's head, prompting the fight.

          Only June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, and Baser Amer were left to play. Australia went on to win by default, 89-53.

          One of the first to react was former NBA player and Australian Andrew Bogut, who described the fracas as "absolutely disgrace."

          Bogut even slammed Gilas players who took a selfie when officials were trying to review the incident.

          "Blokes taking a team selfie after all that. Down 31. Yep. They really just took a team selfie," he said.

          Even people from the Philippines condemned the incident.

          Alab Pilipinas coach and former Gilas Jimmy Alapag, who was watching with San Miguel Beer import Renaldo Balkman at the Philippine Arena, posted on his Twitter account minutes later.

          "Embarassing," he said on his Twitter account @JAlapag3.

          San Miguel Beer point guard Chris Ross posted a tweet with the same message.

          Ginebra forward Joe Devance, meanwhile, said the referees could have prevented the physical game from escalating into the melee.

          "Game got too physical refs could have controlled it. Dang this is to crazy!" he said.

          San Miguel Beer forward Christian Standhardinger came to Gilas players' defense. The Fil-German said described Kickert's elbow on Pogoy as "cheap shot" while hoping nobody got seriously injured.

          "If you attack one of us, you attack all of us! THAT WAS A CHEAP SHOT AGAINST POGOY," he said on his Twitter account @cstandhardinger.

          While some condemn their fellow countrymen for their actions that led to ejections, some lauded four-time MVP June Mar Fajardo as well as Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer who refused to join the fray.

          "June Mar tho... what a beast! And didn't feel the need to throw one punch or throw any chairs to show his pride," said Ginebra guard Sol Mercado on Twitter.

          But Mercado also called out those who thought that the fight was a good thing.

          Ginebra assistant coach Richard Del Rosario and PBA analyst Charles Tiu also weighed in.

          Australia's National Basketball League also posted a tweet minutes after the game, saying they are expecting sanctions to be handed down by the basketball governing bodies of both teams.

          "Those are scenes nobody wants to see on the court, and we'll await any sanctions handed down by the respective governing bodies of the sport," NBL said in the tweet.