The game between Australia and Phillipines last July 02, 2018 (PH TIME) turn into massive brawled between the two opposing teams.
Do you know that Our GILAS team is very respected in the whole world, we fought hard in every competition even in height disparity in our every opponent. I remembered those times when the Philippines entered again in the World Stage participating the 2014 FIBA WORLD CUP in SPAIN. We tried every game in that event, but we are not lucky in the end game to battle against the World Class athlete.
Philippines players, coaches and supporters attack Australian players. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images
But it’s so sad after this game against Australia, people around the world will change their mind about what we are specially to our National team as an athlete.
Let me explain based on my opinion.
As a Filipino citizen and as a local player, Gilas act is not accepted or the right behavior to handle that situation, not to offend some Filipino people, I still love our Team, but in that game, we should accept that our GILAS team made very very wrong.
Now, Filipinos are subdivided about this issue, some people think Gilas is right about what they are doing against the AUSI national team.
But for me every opinion or views of other people are based on his/her behavior.
We can read or see in the NEWS the day before the game that the Australian National team removed some stickers logo in PHILIPPINE Arena where the games is played the day after.
1. First started in the Removal of sticker logos in the Philippine Arena by the Australian team.
But that sticker is “FIBA approved” according to Coach Chot Reyes of Philippine National team, even me it was a signed of disrespect for our Team. But for me it should not include, but emotions of all Filipinos even Gilas Players started with this one.
This is another factor of the brawl
2. There was an issue in the Warmup already where Daniel Kickert pushed Mathew Wright
Many of our fellow country men are very upset about what Daniel Kickert do to our Gilas players, but despite of this why not focused and concentrate the game.
For me this is the BIG ISSUE of the Massive brawl on why even Jason Castro involved in the Brawl. Considering all GILAS players already know about that. Daniel Kickert just pushing Wright without reasons, that’s what all of our Gilas Players very angry of Daniel Kickert.
3. But their is a another video circulating online by FOXSPORTS
Calvin Abueva of Gilas Pilipinas tripping Daniel Kickert of Australia, then Daniel Kickert pushed Mathew Wright
But as stated in the Spin PH website “Abueva admits tripping Daniel Kickert but insisted they are the one who started”. Whether Gilas or Australia started in that then? Why it ended of a massive brawl?
Even if Abueva telling the truth, Do you need to do the same as what other Player did to you?
4. Bad Officiating
For me there are a lot of missed called against our Gilas and our Players could not hold their temper on the game is another factor of the brawl.
If you are watching either in live games or on television, you can relate what I written below:
Somehow I find Jason Castro begging for foul to the refs, also Andray Blatch frustrated of the refs after the refs did not call a foul on the contact, then on the other end Blatch fouled an Aussie player that what we called “FRUSTRATION FOUL”.
It’s another factor of the Brawl.
5. Pogoy could not handle his temper against Aussie player.
I could imagine how Roger Pogoy very frustrated against “Chris Goulding” there was a time when they are both received technical fouls when Pogoy is on the free throw line but Goulding continue to trash talk with him. Many notable players in NBA because of TRASH TALK. Trash talk is some strategy of some players to distract opponents.
Goulding Trash talk to Pogoy whom Pogoy could not handle is another factor of the brawl.
6. Roger Pogoy still frustrated of Goulding
Roger Pogoy initiate a contact on the transition and got an offensive foul after knocking down Chris Goulding and Daniel Kickert elbowed Roger Pogoy and started the massive brawl.
Then Blatch still also upset, instead of separating the 2 players, he insisted to fight back and then fellow Gilas players started to enter the court.
What if after Kickert elbowed Pogoy, Gilas Player did not respond to it, maybe Daniel Kickert will be ejected and that brawl did not happen.
The fight resulted in 13 ejections 9 of them from Philippine Team including, Terrence Romeo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva, Andray Blatche, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Matthew Wright, and Japeth Aguilar.
4 Australian Boomers also ejected namely, Nathan Sobey, Thon Maker, Daniel Kickert and Christopher Goulding.
Conclusions.
If both two opposing teams are at the same level of frustration, there will be a massive event will happen. Some people may say ” That’s good for them, they are in our home floor”. This is not the way Filipinos are, we are known for our hospitality, fighting spirit, but in that situation, we are just the AUSI player, we ride their emotions. How will other nationality or other Athlete treat our Players? According to the News by the end of July 2018 FiBA’S board will have a decision on the Brawl.
Think of it when the Fiba’s decision will be written, Our Gilas Team had a bigger Sanction than Australian team. Do you imagine how this brawl affects some our Filipino Worker abroad? Yet we Had the hosting rights for the 2023 FIBA WORLD CUP together with Japan and Indonesia.
Let me explain if you own the rights in hosting the FIBA World Cup, you already seeded for the World Cup without Qualifying in your respective regions, meaning we don’t need to compete again some power houses in Asia like Australia, New Zealand, China, Iran.
I hope this brawl will not affect to our hosting this coming FIBA 2023 WORLD CUP.
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