BOCAUE, Bulacan -- FIBA in a statement said Austrailia and Philippines will face "disciplinary proceedings" following a brawl resulting in 13 ejections during the game between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia at the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday.
"Following the incident that occurred in the third quarter of the Philippines-Australia game on Monday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers, FIBA will now open disciplinary proceedings against both teams," the world governing basketball stated in its official Twitter account @FIBA_media. "The decision(s) will be communicated in the coming days."
Basketball Australia chief executive Anthony Moore expressed his disappointment following the match played before over 22,000 fans.
"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," Moore said in a statement that was posted in an article at www.nbl.com.au.
"This is not the spirit in which sport should be played and certainly not in the spirit in which we aim to play basketball. We apologise to our fans and will await the penalties to be handed down."
The game was halted at the 4:01 mark of the third period with the Boomers comfortably ahead, 79-48.
Gilas guard Roger Pogoy slammed into Australia's Chris Goulding, knocking Goulding to the floor. Australia's Daniel Kickert immediately retaliated with an elbow to Pogoy's head. Both benches cleared, touching off several fights.
Four players were ejected from Australia led by Goulding and including Kickert, Nathan Sobey, and Thon Maker.
Nine players from Gilas -- Pogoy, Andray Blatche, Troy Rosario, Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva, Carl Bryan Cruz, Japeth Aguilar, and Matthew Wright -- were hit with disqualifying fouls and ejected.
Australia closed the first round of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a 5-1 record, its only loss happening last week after its stinging 79-78 loss to Japan.
Gilas, meantime dropped to solo second with its 4-2, its twin losses coming from Australia. The Filipinos join the Boomers in the second round which begins in mid-September.