Boomers coach Luc Longley claims Philippines coach incited team to brawl

Battered Boomers arrive home as assistant coach Luc Longley claims Philippines coach incited his team to ‘come out and thug us’.

Luc Longley, the assistant coach to the Boomers, says he has “never seen anything” like the “horrifying” brawl that saw Australian basketball players physically attacked by officials and players in their match against the Philippines yesterday.

Longley, an Australian former NBA player who won three championships with the Chicago Bulls in the mid-1990s, directly blamed Filipino team coach Chot Reyes for the violence that saw both teams trade blows during a World Cup qualifier in Ciudad de Victoria, Philippines, yesterday. Thirteen players were ejected from the game in the 89-53 win for Australia.

“Those are the sorts of images you hope you never see; one guy lying on the ground covering his head and being beaten by the other team and officials. It was horrifying,” Longley said as he arrived back in Australia this morning.

“No, I’ve never seen anything like that, not even on YouTube. I do believe their coach Chot Reyes incited them to come out and ‘thug’ us. I think there’s video evidence of that … This is out of the party line, but I’m most disturbed with their head coach.”

The brawl began when Filipino player Roger Ray Pogoy floored Australian Chris Goulding, after which Aussie Daniel Kickert let fly an elbow to Pogoy’s jaw, sending him to the ground.

Longley has been applauded for stepping in to rescue Goulding, who was targeted by a number of opposing players and officials in the melee.

“I went onto the court to protect our guys — with the idea of not hurting anyone and just getting my big body in the way,” Longley said.

“I think (Reyes) was embarrassed by the way his team was playing … and he wouldn’t look me in the eye after the game and I think that’s where a lot of it come from right there.

“I’m upset with him more than anybody, and to let his team take selfies, gangsta selfies on the baseline after an event like that, that shows total lack of control or respect.”

Australia’s head coach, Andrej Lemanis, also spoke to media when he, Longley and Kickert arrived in Brisbane Airport.

“I think the game is emotional and there was an escalation in the level of physicality,” Lemanis said.

“For me, people play for their country because they’re proud and there’s a lot of implied trust in players from me as the coach that they’re not going to be put in the situation of danger or fear.

“What was disturbing was how quickly it became evident the situation could get out of control.

“The players, at the end of the day, feared for how we were going to get out of there and it shook everyone up.

“Physically they have some bumps and bruises that will heal but the emotional scars we’ll see over time.”

Kickert said the situation was “regrettable” and conceded he played a role in the brawl. “It is a regrettable situation. I was put in a position, I think, where I obviously made an action which is regrettable, and unfortunate,” he said.

“It’s not good to put a stain on anything, and it was a good trip for the boys and would have been a good win, I think, ended poorly with a bit of a controversial issue, obviously. I think I’ve overstepped a little bit with my response to the escalation in the game.”

Meanwhile, Ned Coten, chairman of Basketball Australia, told media at Melbourne airport some Australian players have a measure of responsibility.

“I think all of us accept there is a level of responsibility when you enter into any professional environment, including a basketball game,” he said.

“The actions were out of character for some of the players. What I would say is that the playing group showed a great level of discipline in staying together during and after the incident, I don’t think anyone is shying away from the fact there’s always a level of responsibility but again, we’re waiting for FIBA to go through the process they need to go through.”

It is understood Goulding will address the media later today.