FIBA Referee Bong Pascual on PH-AUS Basketbrawl: “Lahat may pagkukulang”
BONG PASCUAL – Veteran FIBA referee Bong Pascual reacted to the basketball brawl between the Philippines’ Gilas Pilipinas players and Australia’s Boomers’ players.
Many were undeniably surprised by the incident during the third quarter of the qualifying match between the basketball teams of the Philippines and Australia for the FIBA World Cup. Based on a report, a brawl happened and lots of Gilas Pilipinas and Boomers players were involved.
According to another report, the basketball brawl during the qualifying match led to 13 players being ejected from the game – leaving only three players allowed to play for the Philippines.
Gilas Pilipinas‘ Matthew Wright, Troy Rosario, Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, Andray Blatche, Terrence Romeo, and Carl Bryan Cruz were ejected from the match.
On the side of Australia’s Boomers, Chris Goulding, Daniel Kickert, Nathan Sobey, and Thon Maker were ejected based on a report. For Goulding, the scores have something to do with the brawl. Boomers was leading the match during that time.
For Gilas’ Romeo, they are teammates and they have to help each other. He apologized but stressed no regret on not leaving Pogoy and his teammates behind.
The basketbrawl between Gilas Pilipinas and Boomers sparked reactions from the people. There were those who understood the side of either of the teams while there were also those who were disappointed by the event’s occurrence.
For the side of veteran FIBA referee Bong Pascual, everyone has shortcomings. Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Pascual expressed that Filipinos are used to brawl but on higher competitions like the FIBA World Cup qualifying match, the behavior is important.
“Di kayang pigilin kasi lagi kong sinasabi ’pag may nag-start na isa — pak — wala na. May bumigay na isa, wala na tayong magagawa kaya wala tayong dapat sisihin diyan. Lahat may pagkukulang,” he said.
Based on the report, Bong Pascual was there at the event to serve as the “liaison officer” to the three referees – Oman’s Ahmed al Bulushi, Lebanon’s Paul Skayem, and Saudi Arabia’s Hatim Alharbi.
According to the veteran FIBA referee, it can be seen in the video that Pogoy’s “unsportsmanlike foul” did not hit Goulding in the face but the latter’s teammate became emotional so as the Gilas players when they hurt the former.
“Instinct ng Pilipino player ’yan. Kaya lang kung kaya mong pigilan sarili mo, ‘di ka sasali sa gulo,” Bong Pascual reportedly said.
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Read also the previous article: Vice Ganda “Dragged” On Controversial FIBA Brawl Against Australia Because Of Terrence Romeo
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