It’s out: FIBA suspends 10 Gilas players, 2 coaches for PH-Australia brawl

“Philippines will play the next home game behind closed doors while a ban for two more home games has been placed under a probationary period of 3 years,” FIBA said. (File photo) (Photo: Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas/Facebook)

After two weeks of waiting, the world basketball’s governing body finally issued sanctions on both the Philippines and Australia for the bench-clearing brawl during the Fédération Internationale de Basket-ball (FIBA) World Cup Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena last July 2.

The FIBA Disciplinary Panel on Thursday, July 19, announced that 10 players and two coaching staff of the Gilas Pilipinas are suspended for the unsportsmanlike behavior it showed in the international play.

These players are Japeth Aguilar, Matthew Wright, Terence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Andray Blatche, Jeth Rosario, Roger Pogoy, Carl Cruz, Jio Jalalon, and Calvin Abueva.

Aguilar and Wright will each serve one-game suspension, while Romeo, Castro, Blatche, and Rosario got three.

Pogoy, Cruz, and Jalalon were handed five-game suspension each, while Abueva got the longest suspension with six games.

The coaching staff of the Philippine team did not escape the sanctions as its head coach, Chot Reyes, will also have to serve one-game suspension and shall pay a disciplinary fine of 10,000 Swiss francs, while its assistant coach, Joseph Uichico, got a three-game suspension.

Aside from the players and coaches, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the Philippines’ basketball governing body, will also have to pay a disciplinary fine of 250,000 Swiss francs for “the unsportsmanlike behavior of its delegation members and of its public, as well as for insufficient organization of the game.”

“Philippines will play the next home game behind closed doors while a ban for two more home games has been placed under a probationary period of 3 years,” FIBA said.

Morever, the FIBA also suspended three players from the Australia’s side.

Daniel Kickert, whom the Gilas’s head coach blamed for triggering the fracas, is banned for five games, while Thom Maker got three, and Chris Goulding got one-game suspension.

Just like SBP, Basketball Australia will also have to pay a disciplinary fine amounting to 100,000 Swiss francs 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.”

Money from the fines, FIBA said, will be used to support the International Basketball Foundation’s (IBF’s) “Basketball for Good.”

“FIBA wishes to emphasize that it condemns any form of violence, both on and off the court. Respect, sportsmanship and professionalism are expected from players, coaches, officials and all other stakeholders at every game,” it stressed.

“Moreover, host countries must ensure the highest standards of organizational conditions are in place to guarantee the safety and well-being of players and other participants at all times,” it added.

As of writing, both SBP and Basketball Australia have not yet issued any statement regarding FIBA’s ruling.