Marcial: We will appeal Fiba sanctions if it involves PBA

The Philippine Basketball Association will appeal any sanction by Fiba on Gilas Pilipinas players if it involves their stint in the professional league, commissioner Willie Marcial said Thursday.

“We will wait for Fiba’s decision,” Marcial told reporters after meeting members of the team that came to blows with Australia during their World Cup Qualifying match at Philippine Arena Monday night.

“If the players are suspended from Fiba tournaments, we will abide by that decision,” Marcial added. “But if they are suspended even in the PBA, we will appeal.”

The PBA has deferred action on the erring players until after the Fiba decision comes out.

Earlier in the day, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Basketball Australia came up with a joint statement expressing regret over the brawl, which happened in the third period of what was officially logged as an 89-53 win by the Aussies when the Filipinos did not have anymore players to continue on.

“We deeply regret the events that took place during the game,” the statement read. “The actions displayed have no place on any basketball court. We wish to apologize to the entire basketball community worldwide—and in particular to our fantastic fans in the Philippines and Australia—for the behavior displayed by both teams and for bringing the game of basketball into disrepute.

“We fully accept our responsibility and are collaborating in the ongoing proceedings to investigate the incidents. We will do everything in our power to prevent this from happening again.”

The statement was signed by SBP president Al Panlilio and BA counter part Ned Coten.

Nine players from Gilas Pilipinas were jected from the game on disqualifying fouls while four Aussies were also tossed after the melee, which was triggered by a blind-side elbow from Daniel Kickert to Roger Pogoy.

Late Wednesday night, NLEX coach Yeng Guiao came to Gilas Pilipinas’ defense and blasted Kickert for the attack, which he described as potentially fatal.

“Kickert started it all and he didn’t even apologize. All he said was it’s regrettable and all he said was it was unfortunate,” Guiao told reporters after the Road Warriors’ loss to the Magnolia Hotshots at Mall of Asia Arena.

“He almost killed somebody and he did not apologize.”

Guiao said the Aussies, who flew to the country on the heels of a stunning defeat to Japan, came to the Philippines “looking for trouble.”

“The tone was set the day before when they were already ripping the decals without any permission. I coached the national team, I would never do that coming into any venue and you have to respect the property of other people whatever they say,” said Guiao, who coached the national team in 2008.

POC secretary general Pato Gregorio admitted that there were jitters that the brawl would affect the World Cup 2023, which the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia.

“Indonesia is also worried with what happened,” said Gregorio, who was also present during the meeting at the PBA Offices in Libis, Quezon City.

Panlilio had earlier allayed fears that the brawl would cause a frayed relationship with Fiba and affect the country’s hosting of the World Cup.

Panlilio doubled down on his assertion in Wednesday’s meeting, describing the brawl as a “standalone event” that had nothing to do with the SBP’s standing with Fiba and its hosting of the World Cup.