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Gilas players say ‘sorry’, as they look to move on from brawl

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/07/03/20180703-gilas4.jpg"/><figcaption>Calvin Abueva (from left), Jio Jalalon, Roger Pogoy and Terrence Romeo, who all figured prominently in the riot that broke out in the game between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia on Monday night, believe it&#x27;s time to put the incident in the rearview. Handout</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines—A day after figuring in an unsightly brawl that made headlines worldwide, players of the Philippine national basketball team have offered their apologies and explanations.The Gilas Pilipinas players were involved in a stunning melee with the visiting Australian national basketball team on Monday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, in what was supposed to be their final game of the first round of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.The lopsided contest – Australia dominated from start to finish – was stopped with 1 minute and 57 seconds left in the third quarter after the Philippines was left with just one player. Nine Gilas players and four Boomers had been ejected in the wake of the contest; Australia won by default, 89-53.Already, Gilas players have already posted <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/03/18/gilas-players-apologize-some-remain-adamant-over-role-in-in-game-fight" target="_blank">statements on their social media accounts</a> to apologize for their roles in the brawl. In a team dinner in Ortigas on Tuesday night, more players offered their apologies while also airing their sides. Of the entire team, only Matthew Wright had spoken to reporters after Monday night&#x27;s events. “Unang-una, hihingi kami ng sorry sa lahat ng fans ng Gilas, saka fans din ng Australia na may nangyari kagabi na ‘di inaasahan,” said Roger Pogoy, whose offensive foul on Chris Goulding wound up sparking the whole unfortunate incident.“Move on na tayo,” added the TNT swingman. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa teammates ko. Totoo silang teammates – ‘di nila ako iniwan.”Pogoy explained that Goulding and Daniel Kickert, who caught him with a blindside hit during a dead ball situation, had been talking trash all game long.“Tao lang din tayo, napuno din ako,” he expressed regretfully. “Binangga ko rin siya. Pang basketball pa rin, hindi ‘yun pang-UFC.”“Nanghihingi kami ng sorry. Sana matutuo kami dito, sana hindi na maulit,” Pogoy added.Jiovani Jalalon, who was not even in the lineup that night, also apologized after his sucker punch of an Australian player went viral.“Sorry sa nangyari kagabi,” he said. “Kahit hindi ako naka-jersey, part pa rin ako ng family na ‘to. Siyempre ito, tulungan lang din. Move on na lang. Sorry na lang sa fans ng Gilas.”Another player who was not in the line-up but nevertheless got involved was Allein Maliksi, who apologized to Gilas fans, the Australian team, as well at FIBA. “It’s not something na gusto pa naming i-reason out,” he also said.“Siguro naman, kahit sino ‘yung andoon, ‘yun ‘yung mangyayari,” Maliksi rationalized. “What if sa family mo nangyari? Seven-footer ‘yun (si Kickert). Si Pogoy, ano ‘yung height niya?”It was also the thought of Pogoy getting hurt that compelled Calvin Abueva to get involved, according to the Alaska forward who was seen repeatedly getting into a fighting stance against multiple Boomers.“Naawa talaga ako kay Pogoy noong tinamaan siya,” said Abueva.“Naga-apologize kami sa mga nangyari kahapon,” he did add. “’Yung time na nagwa-warm up kami, then bigla kami binully, kaming lahat. Hindi fair sa amin ‘yun, kaya noong nagkataon na ‘yun, sabi natin ‘wag na natin palampasin ‘yun.”Also apologetic was Japeth Aguilar, who backed up his teammates in saying that they simply wanted to defend their “brother” in Pogoy. “We’re sorry,” said the Ginebra big man. “Sana, hindi na ito maulit.”June Mar Fajardo, one of three Gilas players spared from ejection, expressed regret over the incident, noting that the team squandered an opportunity to gauge themselves against one of the best teams in the world.“Sayang kasi ‘yung opportunity na mag-improve tayo,” said Fajardo, who despite getting saddled with foul trouble was Gilas’ best option in the game. “Pinaghandaan natin ‘yun.”“Nangyari na ‘yung hindi inaasahan,” he added. “Thankful ako sa grupo na ‘to, andoon talaga ‘yung brotherhood, ‘yung samahan.”As for his role in the melee, Fajardo said he kept his parents’ teachings in mind. The big man was the picture of stoicism throughout the whole brawl, barely approaching any of the other players and instead walking away.“Tinuruan ako ng parents ko, hindi naman sa lahat ng panahon, pero kung pwede mo iwasan ‘yung gulo, umiwas ka,” said Fajardo. “Kasi baka pagsisihan mo.”At the end of the day, the Gilas players seemed eager to put the unsavory episode behind them. Terrence Romeo, who dismissed the national team’s critics in a tweet on Tuesday, stressed that Gilas Pilipinas has to move on from what happened.“Ganoon talaga,” said the high-scoring TNT guard. “Sa aming mga players, kunwari tumulong ka, may masasabi pa rin sa’yo bakit tumulong ka. Kung hindi, may masasabi rin.”“Matuto na lang siguro kami doon sa mga nangyari, tapos mag-move on na lang,” added Romeo. “Mag-mahalan na lang tayo lahat.”For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>

June Mar Fajardo on not fighting — “Kung pwede mo iwasan ‘yung gulo, umiwas ka, kasi baka pagsisihan mo.”

June Mar Fajardo on not fighting — “Kung pwede mo iwasan ‘yung gulo, umiwas ka, kasi baka pagsisihan mo.”

Gilas players say ‘sorry’, as they look to move on from brawl

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Gilas players say ‘sorry’, as they look to move on from brawl

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 03, 2018 11:09 PM PHT

Read More:

2019 FIBA World Cup

2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas

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