The gathering of evidence and testimony may be a tricky, time-consuming process, but it is necessary in order to establish the events that precipitated the fistfight between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia’s Boomers a week ago. Oral and written statements need to be taken from pertinent individuals, and credible photographic and video evidence must be taken into account. Fans and media have mobile phone footage to supplement the live television coverage.
So far, the following events have been established:
Removal of the FIBA-approved sponsor decal from the floor of the Philippine Arena during the Boomers’ practice prior to the match. No formal communication was sent to FIBA or the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas at any point expressing the concern that players might slip on the decal during the game. The entire incident is ironic, because decals are plastered all over the playing floors of Australia’s commercial league. Furthermore, this flies in the face of the warm reception accorded the Aussies throughout their stay.
There was repeated contact made with Filipino players with the intention to intimidate or harm, or at least the latter. This is verified by multiple sources. It is also highly unusual and inappropriate. The more normal course of events is for players from opposite teams who know each other to greet one another during warm-ups. But given that both teams had had prior meals across from each other at the Misto restaurant off the lobby of Seda hotel in Quezon City, this would have become unnecessary. The only other contact international players generally have in these situations is the traditional exchange of tokens immediately before a game. Therefore, the uncalled-for contact with Filipino players should have been a clear signal to the referees that something inappropriate was afoot.
Racial slurs were hurled at Filipino players. This is the least-mentioned but most alarming of the alleged offenses by the Australian team. Everywhere in the sporting world, racism is dealt with quickly and firmly. As stated, FIBA has rules to counteract such actions, specifically Rule 36.3.1...which states “A technical foul is a player non-contact foul of a behavioural nature including, but not limited to...
• Disrespectfully communicating with the officials, the commissioner, the table officials or the opponents.
• Using language or gestures likely to offend or incite the spectators.
• Baiting and taunting an opponent...”
If any video evidence is presented to prove this allegation, FIBA should unequivocally sanction the player or players in question, more so since the Boomers were the visiting team. In addition, Australian players stand accused of inciting the crowd even when they had already taken a large lead, another series of acts that have no place in international competition.
It bears reiterating that game officials should be provided research on the players so as to be better equipped to call the game. Again, this is not to place unfair attention on certain players, but to strengthen the supervision of the game. Just as some referees are prone to making some calls more than others, some players tend to act in a certain way because they’ve gotten away with it in the past. It would be helpful for referees to have their own film viewing to get a first look at the participating players. The combination of teams could provide a combustible combination, after all.
Security in the proximity of the playing court must be strengthened, to also keep team officials and spectators from pouring onto the court and escalating fights. Players’ friends and family usually sit behind the benches, so perhaps venue security can be assigned to watch over them as a precautionary measure, since they have the highest emotional stake in the game.
Philippine basketball has grown in the international game by leaps and bounds in the last decade. Some say this incident brought out the best and the worst in us all. It was unfortunate because of the emotional high of protecting one’s home court, as the promotional campaign for the games insisted. And frankly, Filipinos are sick of foreigners literally and figuratively trying to push us around. It will not go unpunished. Filipino pride was forged over centuries of abuse by foreign invaders. We will brook no more unequal treatment.
Still, this one incident, though revealing, should not define Filipinos as fans of the game, or as players. Worldwide, Filipinos are considered the warmest, most hospitable people on the planet. This was one incident that, hopefully, will result in reforms that will make the system better for everyone. It should not be allowed to happen again, but it should not define us, either.
Scars can become badges of honor.