Basketball Australia "moved quickly to assure NBA clubs their Boomers players will be safe on national duty" in the "emotion-charged and politically sensitive fallout" to the brawl in the Philippines, according to Greg Davis of the Brisbane COURIER-MAIL. Milwaukee Bucks players Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker were part of the Boomers squad "involved in the ugly scenes." Maker was one of the four Australians ejected for his role "after being punched from behind in the shocking melee." Meanwhile, Dellavedova was on the Boomers bench (COURIER-MAIL, 7/3).
'NOT THE NORM': In Sydney, Roy Ward reported FIBA Hall of Fame member Andrew Gaze does not think the brawl "will stop NBA players being able to play for their countries." The NBA does not release its players for the November and February windows, which fall during its regular season. The Boomers play with National Basketball League-based players during those times and hope that in the future "they will have some NBA stars for qualifying games" during the offseason windows. The national side will want its full list of NBA players for major events like the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Gaze "dismissed concerns the NBA and its clubs could stop their stars playing for their countries." He said, "I don't buy that. NBA people aren’t stupid and they understand the game has a long, long history and they understand this is not the norm" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/3).
SAFE HAVEN: The London GUARDIAN reported Australian basketball players "feared for their safety" after the brawl. Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore "faced the media on Tuesday to express his regret at Australia's involvement" in the "unacceptable" altercation. FIBA "has opened an investigation." Moore said that players and coaches "stayed on the court" after the game was called off as it was "deemed the safest place for them to be" in a "tinderbox" atmosphere in the arena in Bulacan (GUARDIAN, 7/3).
POOR DECISION: In Sydney, Will Swanton reported Moore admitted it was not "the smartest move" by team officials to "remove floor decals that they believed had posed a threat to player safety." Moore confirmed the Boomers "may have unwittingly riled the hosts by tearing up advertising boards that players had slipped on the day before the game," but rejected claims from Philippines coach Chot Reyes that the Australians sparked tensions by "hitting" opponents during the warmup before the game. Moore: "We had a team shootaround the day before, floor decals are always something that you look at. We trained, had numerous players fall and fall heavily and our team management undertook a course of action that we actually apologized for. We ripped the decals up" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/3).
