Palace: Gilas-Australia fracas 'unfortunate'
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang described as "unfortunate" the brawl involving Gilas Pilipinas and the Australia Boomers during their FIBA World Cup Asian qualifying game Monday night.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the incident was the "worst he has seen" in the Philippines.
"We found the whole incident unfortunate but at the same time, we appreciate that it's something we have to be sorry about because it never should have happened. But we empathize with the feelings of our players," Roque said in a press briefing Tuesday.
The altercations during the basketball match resulted in player ejections, prompting FIBA officials to end the game with a minute and 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Boomers won by default, 89-53. – Alexis Romero, Job Manahan
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