Australia says sorry for fight-tainted game vs Gilas

Gilas Pilipinas' Jayson Castro goes up against an Australian defender in Monday night's game
Philstar.com/Jonathan Asuncion

MANILA, Philippines – The Australia national basketball team has expressed regret for the incident that marred the team’s FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier against Gilas Pilipinas.

In a statement, Basketball Australia says it is disappointed with what transpired in Monday night’s game, which ended up in an 89-53 victory in favor of the Aussies — a match that erupted to an ugly free-for-all causing the ejection of no less than 13 players and the early finish of the contest.

"Basketball Australia deeply regrets the incident in tonight’s match between the Boomers and the Philippines in Manila. We are extremely disappointed with what happened and our role in it.

“This is not the spirit in which sport should be played and certainly not in the spirit in which we aim to play basketball.

"We apologise to our fans and will await the penalties to be handed down.”

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