Chot Reyes, Uichico also suspended; two basketball federations fined and referees sanctioned
(Eagle News) — Fiba on Thursday, July 19, announced the suspensions of 10 Gilas Pilipinas players over the brawl that ensued between the Philippines and Australia on Monday, July 2.
Ordered suspended were players Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright (1 game each); Terence Romeo, Jayson Castro William, Andray Blatche and Jeth Rosario (3 games each); Roger Pogoy, Carl Cruz and Jio Jalalon (5 games each); and Calvin Abueva (6 games, due also to what FIba said was “prior unsportsmanlike behavior in a FIBA competition”).
Fiba also suspended Coach Chot Reyes for one game and was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 (P534,834) for “inciting unsportsmanlike behavior.”
Assistant Coach Jong Uichico was also suspended for three games for “unsportsmanlike behavior.”
In the Australian side, Fiba suspended Boomers Chris Goulding (1 game), and Daniel Kickert (five games) for “unsportsmanlike behavior and inciting unsportsmanlike behavior”; and Thon Maker (three games) for “unsportsmanlike behavior.”
The basketball federations of both countries were also ordered to pay a fine–Basketball Australia CHF 100,000 (P5,349,200) for the “unsportsmanlike behavior of its players and for abusing and/or tampering of equipment, after having removed floor stickers from the court on the eve of the game,” and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inc (SBP) CHF 250,000 (P13,373,002) for “the unsportsmanlike behavior of its delegation members and of its public, as well as for insufficient organization of the game.”
The money, Fiba said, will be used to support the “Basketball for Good” social program launched by the International Basketball Foundation.
“(The) Philippines will play the next home game behind closed doors while a ban for two more home games has been placed under a probationary period of 3 years,” Fiba said.
As for the three referees who officiated the game, Fiba said the FIBA Secretary General has “decided that the referees of the game shall be removed with immediate effect from the FIBA Elite Program and shall not be nominated to any international competitions organized or recognized by FIBA (including at Zone and Sub-zone level) for a period of one year.”
“FIBA wishes to emphasize that it condemns any form of violence, both on and off the court. Respect, sportsmanship and professionalism are expected from players, coaches, officials and all other stakeholders at every game. Moreover, host countries must ensure the highest standards of organizational conditions are in place to guarantee the safety and well-being of players and other participants at all times,” FIba said.
The brawl ensued after Kickert elbowed Pogoy, who had committed an offensive foul against Goulding.
Australia won that game by default.