Brawl breaks out at Australia vs Philippines World Cup basketball qualifier

Tensions exploded when Philippines guard Roger Pogoy struck Australia’s Chris Goulding with an elbow

A massive mid-game game brawl led to nine basketball players being ejected during a 2019 World Cup qualifier between Australia and the Philippines.

Tensions exploded when Philippines guard Roger Pogoy struck Australia’s Chris Goulding with an elbow. Australia was leading 79-48 with four minutes to the end of the third quarter.

Philippines’ head coach, Vincent Reyes, called it “the height of being unsportsmanlike” while a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte described it as a “regretful incident” and said the government did not justify the behaviour of the country's players.

The game’s governing body, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), has opened disciplinary proceedings, and penalties and fines will be announced in the coming days.

Vice-chairman of the Philippines' basketball body, Robert Pruno, defended the players.

He said: "I think we stood our ground and I think I'm proud of the Gilas Pilipinas boys for standing our ground, fighting for the Filipino people.”