Gilas Pilipinas to play Adelaide 36ers without home fans as ‘Goodwill games’ go ahead but only on a closed court
- The Australian club say in a media release that the games on August 23 and 25 will be open only to VIP guests
- Games are the Philippines’ attempt at extending an olive branch after last year’s brawl in a World Cup qualifier
The “Goodwill games” will be for only a select few, with fans barred from watching Gilas Pilipinas take on visiting Adelaide 36ers in two exhibition games in August because of safety fears.
The Australian side have accepted an invitation to travel to the Philippines to face the national team on August 23 and 25 but only on a closed court in front of VIP guests, according to an Adelaide 36ers media release on Sunday.
The Philippines are using the games as preparation for the Fiba World Cup and invited Adelaide as a way of extending an olive branch to Australia after 13 players – 10 from the Philippines – were suspended by Fiba after a brawl in July last year during a qualifier in Manila.
Adelaide will be accompanied by a security guard but coach Joey Wright, who played four years in the Philippines pro league, said the team would be safe while in the Southeast Asian country.
“Basketball Australia and the club have ticked all the boxes to make sure it’s a safe trip. I’ve lived in the Philippines and played basketball over there for years and have never had any trouble,” Wright was quoted as saying in the release.