Australia v Philippines basketball: Aussie great Luc Longley praised for saving Boomers guard Chris Goulding
BOOMERS great Luc Longley’s fearless intervention to stop Chris Goulding from receiving a severe battering from Philippines players and staff has been praised by a relieved Aussie basketball community.
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THE Australian basketball community have praised Boomers legend and assistant coach Luc Longley for rushing to the aid of guard Chris Goulding as he was held down and bashed by multiple Philippine players and staff.
Nine Philippine players and four Boomers were ejected from Monday night’s FIBA World Cup qualifier after a nasty brawl was sparked when Goulding was sent to the floor with a heavy shove with four minutes left in the third quarter.
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All hell broke loose when Sydney Kings forward Daniel Kickert appeared to strike the Philippine player that hit Goulding with an elbow, and which saw the home team clear the bench and start a virtual street fight in a stunning over-reaction.
In disgraceful scenes, Goulding was also set upon by a number of Philippine players as the fight dragged on for more than a minute and the referees lost complete control.
Thankfully, Longley noticed the Melbourne United star at the bottom of the pile and raced on the court to help him.
Goulding’s agent Daniel Moldovan applauded Longley for his courage via social media.
Horrific vision..... Luc Longley might have just saved Chris Goulding's life. The assistant coach grabs a chair and pummels it down on his head while multiple cowards stomp on him. This is very hard to watch. https://t.co/8PIQc37bqa
— Daniel Moldovan (@AgentMoldovan) July 2, 2018
Moldovan also called for the Philippine players and staff involved to face life bans for their gutless actions.
Let’s call this for what it is. This is assault! Spats and occasionally fights happen in a game, but for a bench to clear and players, support staff, arena employees to start kicking, stomping, throwing chairs - it is ASSAULT! I hope FIBA bans the Filipino federation for a year! https://t.co/Y3j9gvRq4L
— Daniel Moldovan (@AgentMoldovan) July 2, 2018
Goulding was left “battered and bruised” from the horrific incident but Moldovan confirmed his client was on the mend.
“He is (OK),” Moldovan said on SEN Radio.
“He’s a little bit bruised and battered, but he is OK. He’s a tough one. He’s shocked and appalled, as we all are, at what took place.”
Moldovan said Goulding was at one point pinned down as a dozen people attacked him.
Tonight, my emotions got the better of me like a father who cares about his sons. That does not excuse my actions and I apologize to everyone as in hindsight I should have not gotten involved. This is a painful but maybe necessary lesson for me.
— Jong Uichico (@coachjong) July 2, 2018
“That was just Chris — alone, underneath 12 guys stomping him, punching him, kicking him, the American on the team was holding his leg down so he couldn’t get up,” he said.
“Unacceptable.
“What took place from those that flew off the bench out of sight and out of mind for those involved in the fracas, the team officials, managers, equipment guys, water boys, whoever they were — going in the fashion that they did, that’s where I take serious offence to what took place and that’s where I want to see FIBA come down with a very, very heavy hand.”
Watching the horrific fight on from home, Andrew Bogut was shocked and saddened by the scenes.
MAN WTF!!! Disgusting
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2018
Hope @sobes2zero is ok. Unbelievable
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2018
Bogut also hit out at the Philippine players that posed for a celebratory team selfie, only moments after the brawl had ended.
Blokes taking a team selfie after all that. Down 31. Yep. They really just took a team selfie.
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2018
Originally published as Australia v Philippines basketball: Aussie great Luc Longley praised for saving Boomers guard Chris Goulding
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