FIBA brawl and possible repercussions

DIFFERENT countries have different sporting passions and their supporters range from the silently passive to the rabidly loyal that, be it on domestic or foreign soil, they go with their teams complete with props. Our country, despite home to the vertically challenged, is a hot bed for basketball. The sport competes with politics and religion.

Some 20,000 fans trooped to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on July 2 to watch a FIBA qualification game between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australian Boomers. The game was seen by millions around the world. This was the second meeting between the two teams and the Gilas would be happy to avenge their loss from their previous meeting. Like the majority scattered around our islands, I’m a fan of Gilas.

Controversy began a day before the game when the Australians, during practice in the arena, ripped the sponsors’ stickers off the floor without notifying those concerned. They had an explanation why they did it but the act was not proper and they reportedly apologized for the deed. The fire was lit.

Allegedly during warm-ups on game night, four Gilas players were elbowed by a specific Aussie player and they were repeatedly taunted by others and called “monkeys.” A Gilas player returned the compliment by tripping the meanest Aussie of them all. Taunting? Some of us have PhDs on the matter and our boys could have answered back with kangaroos and wombats. We’re not privy to that incident so let’s leave it at that since we have to be in their “circle” to understand. Fire’s already burning.

Game time. Gilas showed some grit in the early stages until the Aussies went full throttle. The visitors’ execution of plays was great as compared to the Gilas’ individual plays. Yeah, one-on-one when the opponent is a full head above you.  Simply put, we were undersized and overmatched. Along the way, lots of physicality that, had the referees taken control, things wouldn’t have gotten out of hand as emotions are near conflagration proportions already.

The ripped stickers and the pre-game incidents already fuelled the aggression and naturally, uncontrolled wildfire happened when an Aussie player got his elbow acquainted to a Gilas player’s jaw. We are a tolerant and gracious nation but they had already crossed the line. It is a natural instinct to stand and fight for your teammate and for what you think is right. Let us all remember that a “monkey” from Mactan centuries ago killed a foreign invader on the shore with his bolo.

To recall, when we were in grade school, my younger brother and I were on a mini-basketball team. Because we were on it to complete the roster, we get limited minutes and would be happy if our mother and aunt come to watch as, surely, our coach will let us play “kay mahuya kay Ma’am.” When we miraculously get some playing time, there were the requisite taunts and catcalls (guess who picks up the fight for us). Growing up, fistfights sometimes happen even when only iced water is at stake in a sandlot court. I understand the Gilas’ immediate reaction and had I been in their place, I would be lying if I say I’ll be behaved like a monk.

Because our fighters were short, fists literally flew, including plastic water bottles and a chair that made a touchdown on an Aussie’s back. Another Aussie badly missed his target with his un-practiced kangaroo kicks. This does not mean that I am clapping my hands on this ugly incident. Gilas team officials could have prevented players on the bench from entering the court and they too should take blame.

Instead, an assistant coach joined in ganging up on a fallen player who was being held on the floor with a choke hold by a Gilas reserve. What if that player was fatally injured? Sorry na lang? Another reserve player delivered a solid facial to an Aussie whose arms were held by what looks like an event security personnel. Ganging up and sucker-punching someone is not a definition of brotherhood anymore; it’s cowardly thuggish. Had the rest of the Australian team on their benches not restrained by their staff, things would have gotten worse.

Apologies from both sides were made but damage had been done. Wounds heal but there will always be scars to remind everyone of the infamy. There will be stiff sanctions and maybe suspensions from international competitions and our hosting of the 2023 FIBA Worlds could be in jeopardy. As per latest reports, the Australians are not ruling out the possibility of filing criminal charges. I do hope that FIBA will also give game officials their fair share of penalties as, if not for their ineptness, it would have been a good game.

As host of an international sporting competition, we could have shown more restraint and tolerance but emotions took the better of us. There will be a lingering effect and irrational species could or would be taking matters into their own hands. Some misguided Aussies could taunt and harass thousands of OFWs based in Australia with the rumble as their rallying point. And that would be really bad.

Children and adults alike had witnessed the unfortunate event. Because the young are vulnerable and easy to please, what their idols do usually are accepted as true and legit. The Bulacan brawl was not the right example and these guys with the Philippine flag on their chests had the stupidly tasteless act to pose for a selfie with silly smiles on their faces after the melee. And, hello, I won’t become an Australian citizen because I’m not in favor of their half-baked machismo. Again, I’m a Gilas fan, but I don’t like what happened./PN