Australian NBA legend Luc Longley says he feared for player's life during shocking basketball brawl
Australian NBA legend Luc Longley said he feared for the life of one his team's players as he was pummelled by eight opposing players during an all-in brawl.
The Boomers assistant coach came to the rescue of guard Chris Goulding during the fight which marred the World Cup qualifying game against the Philippines in Manila on Monday night.
'Chris wasn't moving - it made me feel sick in the gut and I feared the worst,' Longley told the Daily Telegraph.
Australian NBA legend Luc Longley said he feared for the life of one his team's players as he was pummeled by eight opposing players during an all-in brawl
The Boomers assistant coach came to the rescue of guard Chris Goulding during the fight which marred the World Cup qualifying game against the Philippines
'Chris wasn't moving - it made me feel sick in the gut and I feared the worst,' Longley told the Daily Telegraph.
'But there was nothing he could do. There were eight-plus guys on him, so he had his hands curled up over his head. He was just going into preservation mode and protecting himself.
'I could see him at the bottom, a bit of yellow among all the blue, and that is when I tried to move guys off him. The coaches aren't allowed to leave the bench, expect the head coach, but I knew I had to do something.'
Goulding found himself at the bottom of a pile after being pushed to the ground before being pummelled by a dozen opposition players and staff.
Goulding found himself at the bottom of a pile after being pushed to the ground before being pummelled by a dozen opposition players and staff
Daniel Kickert came in and struck Kogoy with an elbow to the face but was quickly pounced upon by Philippines players from all corners
Australian centre Thon Maker (number seven) launches a flying knee at a group of Filipino players
Longley used his 2.18m-tall frame to shove Philippines players and officials out of the way during the fight.
He described the fracas as 'bizarre'.
'That dog mentality of punching guys from behind, it is just ugly.'
The fighting broke out towards the end of the third quarter when Goulding was pushed to the ground by Filipino guard Roger Kogoy with a raised forearm.
Boomers player Nathan Sobey is punched in the face by an official during the fight
Daniel Kickert then came in and struck Kogoy with an elbow to the face but was quickly pounced upon by Philippines players from all corners, and the madness ensued from there.
While the home team's bench cleared, Australia's bench players were restrained from doing likewise, which Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore said was to avoid automatic ejections.
Moore did not rule out the prospect of potential criminal action being taken against those involved but said Basketball Australia would first allow a FIBA investigation and tribunal process unfold.