July 2, 2018 – Bulacan Arena
FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2018 News: Australia romped over Gilas Pilipinas, 89-53, but the highlight of the World Cup 2019 qualifier this Monday at the Bulacan Philippine Arena was the all-out bench-clearing brawl between the Aussies and Filipinos. Roger Pogoy was at the center of the melee after an offensive play altercation with Christopher James Goulding. Consequently, Daniel Kickert retaliated with a sucker elbow and decked Pogoy that resulted to the chaotic court rumble.
Notes:
➤ James Goulding carried the Boomers with 23 points on 4 of 5 Three Point shooting (80% clip).
➤ Andray Blatche led the losing Gilas with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
➤ The Filipinos later lost the game by default as it lost the majority of players due to ejection, and later the remaining players being disqualified due to fouls.
➤ The game was halted by the brawl in the third quarter with 04:01 remaining and Australia ahead big, 79-48. In all, nine Filipino players and four Aussies were ejected from the game. It was later continued with Pilipinas Basketball team being limited to only three players: June Mar Fajardo, Baser Amer, and Gabe Norwood.
➤ Fajardo was saddled with early foul trouble and was limited to only 10 points.
➤ It was revealed by Coach Chot Reyes that Daniel Kickert was taunting and physically hitting Filipino players even during the shootaround warm-up period.
➤ Australia is now up with a 5-1 win-loss slate in the first round of the Qualifiers to top Group B while the Philippine basketball team settles for second with a 4-2 record. Both teams automatically advance to the second round together with third placer Japan beginning this September.
Goulding 20, Kickert 12, Dellavedova 9, Maker 8, Brandt 8, Lisch 7, Sobey 7, Kay 7, Gliddon 6, Drmic 5, McCarron 0, Cadee 0.
Blatche 12, Fajardo 10, Castro 8, Romeo 6, Aguilar 6, Norwood 4, Pogoy 4, Amer 3, Abueva 0, Wright 0, Rosario 0 .
July 3, 2018 - The Arena, Bulacan
Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team