Australia met the Philippines for a matchup in Group B of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, but the game didn’t go as planned.
During the third quarter, a massive brawl began following a flop and a retaliation. The brouhaha resulted in 13 ejections — including Australia’s Thon Maker of the Milwaukee Bucks — and left the Philippines with three players.
Ok, so, there was 13 ejections.
From Australia: Sobey, Goulding, Maker, Kickert.
9 Filipino players were ejected.
The game continues. The Philippines have 3 players. Australia has 8. We're watching 5 on 3, right now.
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) July 2, 2018
Shortly after, two more Philippines players fouled out. So, with a little less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Australia won the game 89-53 by forfeit.
Social media users, whether basketball fans, media or former players, had a wide range of reactions to the madness.
Bench-clearing brawl between Gilas and Australia. pic.twitter.com/RotOFNiMgl
— Camille B. Naredo (@camillenaredo) July 2, 2018
Thon Maker out here throwing knees! #Boomers pic.twitter.com/feizBcSBkc
— Ricky Mangidis (@rickm18) July 2, 2018
Absolutely EXTRAORDINARY scenes in the Australia v Philippines World Cup Qualifier. One of the wildest brawls I've seen in professional sport. Match likely to be abandoned in the third quarter.
— Adam White (@White_Adam) July 2, 2018
CALL THE GAME!
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2018
A sad night will see the game continue, the Philippines with just three players on court. #FIBAWC
— Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) July 2, 2018
Gabe Norwood, the Filipino captain, just fouled out. The Philippines, with one player remaining, are forced to bow out of the game. Australia wins 89-53.
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) July 2, 2018
After seeing that Philippines/Australia brawl, feels like some guys should probably be banned indefinitely from FIBA competition.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) July 2, 2018
What do you do after a disgraceful all in brawl?
Take a selfie….yeah cool #GilasPilipinas #Fiba pic.twitter.com/d1fsOnl9Zx— Fletcher Doherty (@FletcherDoherty) July 2, 2018
Shocked. Wonder what FIBA will do. That was crazy. Haven’t seen a brawl like this in such a big game.
— Charles Tiu (@charlestiu) July 2, 2018
To the non-basketball fans who may have seen or heard about what happened in the Philippines-Australia game, no, this is not basketball. What you have seen is a disgrace to this beautiful sport. Basketball is so much better than this.
— bijooweol (@eggy_eggz) July 2, 2018
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