Push Admin

Australia's Goulding on brawl: 'I tried to wait it out'

Article (news)

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/news/07/05/fiba.jpg"/><figcaption>Australia&#x27;s Chris Goulding. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Australian guard Chris Goulding on Thursday broke his silence regarding the brawl that occurred between the Boomers and Gilas Pilipinas during their FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier game last Monday.It was Goulding who had borne the brunt of the Philippine team&#x27;s wrath during the melee. Roger Pogoy&#x27;s hard foul on the Australian guard sparked the incident, as Boomer forward Daniel Kickert retaliated by elbowing the Gilas guard.As the Filipino players swarmed the court, they poured their ire mostly on Goulding, who was dragged behind the basket&#x27;s stanchion and surrounded. It was Australian basketball legend Luc Longley who eventually managed to drag Goulding from the pile and into safety.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2018/07/04/fiba-mom-s-lessons-made-june-mar-stay-away-brawl-43952">READ: Mom&#x27;s lessons made June Mar stay away from Gilas-Boomers brawl</a></li></ul>&quot;To be honest, at the time I don&#x27;t want to say I went into survival mode, but as you see, I was on the ground, there was a lot of people on top of me, punching and kicking,&quot; Goulding said in an interview on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1FdAwgKSs/?taken-by=nbl">Australian television</a>.&quot;I just really tried to tuck my head, protect my head and sort of wait it out,&quot; he added.Anthony Moore, the chief executive of Basketball Australia, said Tuesday morning that <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/03/18/basketball-australia-chief-decries-role-of-fans-officials-in-fracas">the incident was alarming</a>, especially after fans and team officials got involved. Video replays showed that Gilas assistant coach Jong Uichico was among those who accosted Goulding when he was already prone on the ground.&quot;Look, it was alarming. It was absolutely alarming when you see a congregation of players at the end of the court, and you say, &#x27;Is one of our guys actually under there?&#x27;,&quot; said Moore.&quot;It was absolutely alarming to think that one of our players is surrounded by 20 people with a significant amount of physical altercations occurring,&quot; he added.Goulding believes that brawl took place partly because of how the game had progressed. The Boomers were in control of the game right from the opening tip, and when the incident happened, they had a huge 79-48 lead.&quot;We were playing some really good basketball. We got up big, and I think the overriding thing is they weren&#x27;t happy with that. They were a little embarrassed. They sent a player out to try to get under our skin, hit some elbows,&quot; said the 29-year-old guard.Goulding was one of four Boomers thrown out of the game, along with Kickert, Nathan Sobey, and Thon Maker – who went viral for his attempts at hitting Filipino players with a flying kick.Nine Gilas players were ejected as well, and while the game continued, it was soon stopped with still 1:57 to play in the third period when only one Filipino was left to play.Goulding, who sustained a black eye and some bruises from the melee, hoped that Australian basketball players – especially the children – would not judge the entire sport based on one unsavory incident.&quot;For the kids that saw that, I just want to say that that&#x27;s not the way to go about basketball. We&#x27;ve got a beautiful game,&quot; said Goulding.Had the brawl not occurred, Goulding very likely would have earned Player of the Game honors for the Boomers. The 6-foot-4 guard was unstoppable, having already scored 20 points in the third period while making four of his five attempts from the field.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Australian guard Chris Goulding on Thursday broke his silence regarding the brawl that occurred between the Boomers and Gilas Pilipinas during their FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier game last Monday.

Australian guard Chris Goulding on Thursday broke his silence regarding the brawl that occurred between the Boomers and Gilas Pilipinas during their FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier game last Monday.

Australia's Goulding on brawl: 'I tried to wait it out'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

Australia's Goulding on brawl: 'I tried to wait it out'

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 05, 2018 12:27 PM PHT

Read More:

FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas

Australia

Chris Goulding

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.