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Matthew Wright on Gilas-Australia brawl: ‘We had each other’s backs’

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/07/03/20180702-gilas7.jpg"/><figcaption>Matthew Wright and several Gilas Pilipinas players take a selfie as people wait for game officials to make a ruling in the aftermath of a massive fight between the host team and Australia. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas guard Matthew Wright made it clear that his teammates were just standing up for each other when they got involved in a bench-clearing brawl with the Australian national team during a FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier on Monday night.Wright was one of nine Gilas players ejected after they engaged in a free-for-all with the Boomers with four minutes left in the third quarter, after seeing Roger Pogoy hit the deck thanks to a hit from Australia’s Daniel Kickert.“It was just a chippy game,” said Wright of the contest, which ended with 1:57 left when Baser Amer was the lone Filipino standing. “He (Kickert) just hit Pogoy after the foul was called, which is unnecessary.”“That caused the entire thing,” he added.After seeing Pogoy crash to the floor, Jayson Castro leapt up to punch Kickert, with Andray Blatche also shoving other Australian players. Soon enough, even Gilas players who were not on the floor at the time – including Wright – made their way to the court and threw punches.It took some time before the players were separated and sent to their respective benches, and it was clear that ejections were looming. The Philippines wound up with only three players – Amer, June Mar Fajardo, and Gabe Norwood.Fajardo and Norwood fouled out in short order, and the game was soon put to a stop. Australia won by default, 89-53.But Gilas players were defiant in the wake of the brawl, with Terrence Romeo declaring on social media that he did not care for those who criticized the national team players – not even if those were their fellow PBA stars.Wright shared Romeo’s sentiment, saying: “We just stood up for our guys.”“Everyone knows we’re gracious hosts, but if you push us to a limit, there’s only so much we can do,” he added. “I’m just happy that everyone stood up for each other, and we had each other’s backs.”Wright also made it clear that as tough as the loss was, they had no regrets about their actions.“If it ever happens again to us, we would probably do the same thing,” said the Phoenix star.“We have each other’s backs,” Wright said emphatically. “We’re a brotherhood. It’s more than basketball.”<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

The Gilas swingman believes he and his teammates were "gracious hosts," and that they were pushed to the limit by the Australian basketball team.

The Gilas swingman believes he and his teammates were "gracious hosts," and that they were pushed to the limit by the Australian basketball team.

Matthew Wright on Gilas-Australia brawl: ‘We had each other’s backs’

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Matthew Wright on Gilas-Australia brawl: ‘We had each other’s backs’

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 03, 2018 01:29 AM PHT

Read More:

2019 FIBA World Cup

2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas

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