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Nicolas Atkin

Philippines coach Chot Reyes has been accused of inciting the violence that erupted into an all-out brawl in a World Cup qualifying match against Australia on Monday.
The melee in Bulacan, north of Manila, at the Philippine Arena involved players, fans and officials with the Australia team left fearing for their safety.
The visitors even sought help from the Australian embassy to fast track their departure, and the team arrived home on Wednesday morning.
After landing in Brisbane, Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley, a former NBA star with the Chicago Bulls, claimed he heard Reyes tell his players during a timeout to “hit somebody” because he felt “embarrassed” by how badly his team were playing.

Australia vs the Philippines ended in absolute CHAOS.... and 13 ejections! pic.twitter.com/ijpWlbWT7i
— FOX Basketball (@FoxBasketball) July 2, 2018

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“I’ve never seen anything like that, not even on YouTube. I do believe that their coach Chot Reyes incited them to come out and thug us,” said Longley, who won three NBA championships with Michael Jordan.
“I think there’s video evidence of that. Then he substituted a thug out there, who took three or four cheap swings at ‘Bubbles’ [Australia player Chris Goulding].”
Philippines and Australia basketball brawl erupts with punches, kicks and chairs thrown and 13 players ejected
World basketball’s governing body Fiba has opened disciplinary proceedings against both teams and will announce a decision in the coming days.
In all, 13 players were ejected following the ugly clash, which took Fiba officials 30 minutes to break up, with some Philippines players then bizarrely taking group selfies on the court.

“I’m upset with him [Reyes] more than anybody, and to let his team take selfies, gangster selfies on the line after an event like that, that shows total lack of control or respect,” Longley said.
“He wouldn’t look me in the eye at the end of the game when I shook his hand, and I think he was embarrassed and … if you listen to his diatribe after the game, I think it verifies it.”
Philippines basketball brawl: Australia inflamed issue by ripping up decals from court, admits chief
The violence erupted when Gilas Pilipinas star Roger Pogoy knocked Goulding to the floor with an elbow. Daniel Kickert of Australia rushed over and retaliated with an elbow in kind on Pogoy, before all hell broke loose.
Longley tried to help Goulding, who was being hounded by a large group of Filipino players and officials.

“Those are the sorts of images you hope you never see, one guy lying on the ground covering up his head and being kicked and beaten by the other team, players and officials and guys from the crowd,” he said. “It was horrifying. I wasn’t supposed to come off the bench. It was really disturbing.
“I went onto the court to protect our guys, with the idea of not hurting anyone, just putting my big body in the way.”
After the brawl, the Philippines resumed the match with just three players, having been down 79-48 when the brawl erupted late in the third quarter.
The game further descended into farce soon afterwards, with another Philippines player ejected for a foul. Down to two men, they were forced to forfeit the game with Australia taking a 89-53 victory in the group B Asian qualifier clash.

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FIBA (International Basketball Federation)

Basketball brawl: Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes urged players to ‘hit somebody’, claim Australia

A brawl erupts between players from the Philippines and Australia during the Basketball World Cup 2019 qualifier. Photo: EPA

epa06858052 Nathan Sobey (C) of Australia reacts after getting into a brawl with players from the Philippines during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Group B qualifier match between the Philippines and Australia in Manila, Philippines, 02 July 2018. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

epa06858053 Head coach of the Philippines, Vincent Reyes (C) attempts to subdue a brawl between players from the Philippines and Australia during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Group B qualifier match between the Philippines and Australia in Manila, Philippines, 02 July 2018. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

The Philippines' Jason William, centre, jumps to hit Australia's Daniel Kickert centre left as others rush to break the brawl during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Monday, July 2, 2018 at the Philippine Arena in suburban Bocaue township, Bulacan province north of Manila, Philippines. Australia defeated the Philippines 89-53 via default following a brawl in the third quarter. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Philippines and Australia basketball brawl erupts with punches, kicks and chairs thrown and 13 players ejected

A brawl erupts between players from the Philippines and Australia during the Basketball World Cup 2019 group B qualifier in Bulacan, north of Manila. Photo: EPA

epa06857897 Christopher Goulding (L) lies on the ground as Daniel Kickert (2-L) of Australia elbows Roger Pogoy (C) of the Philippines during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Group B qualifier match between the Philippines and Australia in Manila, Philippines, 02 July 2018. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

epa06857982 Nathan Sobey (C-R) of Australia gets into a brawl with Andray Blatche (back) and Calvin Abueva (C-L) of the Philippines during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Group B qualifier match between the Philippines and Australia in Manila, Philippines, 02 July 2018. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

Philippines basketball brawl: Australia inflamed issue by ripping up decals from court, admits chief

Philippines’ Jason William strikes Australia’s Daniel Kickert as others rush over to get involved in a mass brawl. Photo: AP

epa06858725 Thon Maker (C) of Australia attempts to kick Terrence Romeo (R) of the Philippines after a brawl erupted during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Group B qualifier match between the Philippines and Australia in Manila, Philippines, 02 July 2018. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

epa06859792 Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore speaks to the media in Brisbane, Australia, 03 July 2018. Basketball's international governing body has opened disciplinary hearings against Australia and the Philippines after their World Cup 2019 Asian qualifier descended into chaos with 13 players ejected for brawling during the match. EPA-EFE/JONO SEARLE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

The Philippines and Australian basketball players react, during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Monday, July 2, 2018 at the Philippine Arena in suburban Bocaue township, Bulacan province north of Manila, Philippines. Australia defeated the Philippines 89-53 via default following a brawl in the third quarter. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

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Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley blames Chot Reyes for inciting the violence that saw World Cup qualifier descend into Manila melee


Basketball brawl: Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes urged players to ‘hit somebody’, claim Australia

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley blames Chot Reyes for inciting the violence that saw World Cup qualifier descend into Manila melee

Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley blames Chot Reyes for inciting the violence that saw World Cup qualifier descend into Manila melee