After defacing the Philippine Arena a day earlier, the Australia Men’s National Basketball Team made sure to finish the job on Monday evening. But not before figuring in a brawl with Gilas Pilipinas.
With just one player left on the court after the most violent brawl in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the game was called to a halt with 1:57 left in the third frame, giving Australia an 89-53 win.
With Australia up by 31 points, 79-48, with 4:01 left, a huge brawl broke out.
Ejected from the game were Terrence Romeo, Carl Cruz, Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva, Andray Blatche, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, and Matthew Wright for Gilas; and Nathan Sobey, Chris Goulding, Thon Maker and Daniel Kickert of Australia.
Blatche had 12 points to lead Gilas, while Fajardo had 10 markers.
Baser Amer, Gabe Norwood, and June Mar Fajardo remained in the game.
Having no other recourse, Fajardo and Norwood had to foul out of the game to call for the stoppage.
The Philippines end the opening group stages with a 4-2 record, both losses coming at the hands of Australia.
Gilas, the Boomers, and Japan’s Akatsuki Five will advance to Group F together with Iraq and Kazakstan. The quintet will have to wait for the result of the Iraq versus Qatar tiff later tonight to know who will complete the group.
Coming off a loss to Japan last Friday, Australia started off strong before Fajardo and Gilas’ shock troopers rallied the Philippines back to close out the opening frame.
Clinging to a 23-20 lead early in the second frame, the Boomers went on a blitz — scoring 12 straight points capped by a Cameron Gliddon triple. The lead would balloon to as high as 17 points, 46-29.
Making matters worse, Fajardo was slapped with his fourth foul with 1:41 remaining in the half, as Christopher Goulding drew a charge from the four-time Most Valuable Player.
A quarter later, the game was forced into stoppage.
Goulding was unstoppable in the game, scoring a game-high 20 markers, while Kickert chipped in 12.
The Philippines will go on the road on Thursday, September 13 to take on Group D leaders Iran.
The Scores:
Australia 89 — Goulding 20, Kickert 12, Dellavedova 9, Brandt 8, Maker 8, Kay 7, Lisch 7, Sobey 7, Gliddon 6, Drmic 5, Cadee 0, McCarron 0.
Philippines 53 — Blatche 12, Fajardo 10, Castro 8, Aguilar 6, Romeo 6, Norwood 4, Pogoy 4, Amer 3, Abueva 0, Rosario 0, Wright 0.
Quarterscores: 23-18, 52-37, 89-53.
