Push Admin

Chot says brawl ‘absolutely unacceptable’ but defends Gilas players

Article (news)

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/07/02/20180702-reyes.jpg"/><figcaption>The fight that broke out in the game between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia on Monday was a reaction to dirty tactics by the visitors, alleged coach Chot Reyes. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines—Even as he acknowledged that their now infamous brawl against Australia is “absolutely unacceptable,” Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes still rushed to the defense of his players and explained the events that led up to the unfortunate incident.The Philippines lost to Australia by default, 89-53, in their FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier on Monday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, when the game was called to a halt with 1:57 left in the third period.At that point, the Philippines only had one player available – Baser Amer. This, after nine players were thrown out in the wake of the bench-clearing melee, and after June Mar Fajardo and Gabe Norwood had fouled out as well. Australia had four players ejected on their side.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/02/18/fiba-world-cup-after-bench-clearing-brawl-gilas-loses-by-default-to-australia">FIBA World Cup: After bench-clearing brawl, Gilas loses by default to Australia</a></li>	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/02/18/fiba-world-cup-9-gilas-players-ejected-after-brawl-with-australia">FIBA World Cup: 9 Gilas players ejected after brawl with Australia</a></li></ul>Speaking to reporters after the game, Reyes maintained that they “didn’t want it to happen.”“It’s absolutely unacceptable,” he said.However, the coach also noted that the Gilas players were simply reacting to what they felt were dirty tactics used by the Boomers, particularly forward Daniel Kickert.According to Reyes, Kickert had been provoking the Philippine team during the warm-ups, when he hit Carl Bryan Cruz, Matthew Wright, Roger Pogoy and Calvin Abueva.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/02/18/terrence-romeo-on-gilas-australia-brawl-hindi-namin-pwede-pabayaan-isat-isa">Terrence Romeo on Gilas-Australia brawl — ‘Hindi namin pwede pabayaan isa’t isa’</a></li>	<li><a href="sports/07/02/18/fiba-world-cup-mayhem-ensues-as-gilas-australia-game-turns-violent">FIBA World Cup: Mayhem ensues, as Gilas-Australia game turns violent</a></li></ul>The free-for-all at the 4:01 mark of the third quarter started when Pogoy committed a hard offensive foul on Australia’s Chris Goulding, and Kickert responded by decking him from behind. It was a full-on brawl from there, with the normally mild-mannered Jayson Castro seen leaping for a punch on Kickert before the rest of the Gilas players spilled onto the court.“The foul of Pogoy on Goulding was an offensive foul, and it was a basketball play,” Reyes maintained. “But he (Kickert) was the one who came in and decked Pogoy (for the) fifth time.”“You don’t expect to do it to a team five times, and not expect them to retaliate, so that’s what happened,” he explained. “Unfortunately, that triggered the entire brawl.”When asked for Kickert’s motives, Reyes opined that the Australian forward may just have been trying to out-psych the Filipinos.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/02/18/world-reacts-to-violent-abrupt-end-to-gilas-pilipinas-australia-game">World reacts to violent, abrupt end to Gilas Pilipinas-Australia game</a></li></ul>“But whatever his motives is, there is no excuse for him doing what he did during the warm-up,” said Reyes. “Nakakita ka na ba ng kalaban na tumira sa warm-up? Sa lay-up line? Round-robin, hindi pa nag-uumpisa, pinagtitira na tayo.”“What do you expect us to do?” he added.Already, reactions from all over the world are pouring in regarding the incident. Several PBA players have expressed their shock and disappointment at what happened, which Reyes says is understandable.“I understand the disappointment, I understand that some our embarrassed,” said the coach.However, he stressed that these critics do not really know what occurred, and the events that led to the brawl that has since made it to international websites.“It’s something that you have to be there to know what really went down,” said Reyes. “I know a lot of Filipinos, especially a lot of PBA players are saying their piece, but they don’t know what happened.”“They don’t really know what went on,” he said. “That’s all that we have to say.”“You have to be in the team, you have to be in our circle to really understand what went down.”

The Gilas Pilipinas coach says his players were provoked, particularly by Australia forward Daniel Kickert.

The Gilas Pilipinas coach says his players were provoked, particularly by Australia forward Daniel Kickert.

Chot says brawl ‘absolutely unacceptable’ but defends Gilas players

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Sports

Chot says brawl ‘absolutely unacceptable’ but defends Gilas players

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 02, 2018 11:47 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 03, 2018 01:56 AM PHT

Read More:

2019 FIBA World Cup

2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.