Seven Years On: Revisiting the 2018 Gilas-Australia brawl ahead of FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinal rematch

Gilas Pilipinas will face Australia for the first time since the infamous brawl during a FIBA World Cup Qualifiers game seven years ago at the Philippine Arena, following their 95-88 overtime win against Saudi Arabia.

The winner of the clash will earn a spot in the semifinals, while the loser will be relegated to the classification phase of the tournament.

The basketball world still vividly remembers the notorious melee between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australian Boomers during the 2018 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers — a heated game that spiraled into an all-out brawl, forever etched into Philippine sports history.

What began as a physical contest inside the Philippine Arena — and fueled by pre-game taunting from the Boomers — escalated in the third quarter after Gilas guard RR Pogoy’s hard foul sent Chris Goulding crashing to the floor. In response, Aussie big man Daniel Kickert struck Pogoy with a wrestling-style hit, sparking chaos.

Players from both sides pushed, shoved, and traded punches as the tension boiled over. Chairs were thrown, tempers flared, and the game descended into disorder, eventually leading to multiple ejections. FIBA handed down heavy sanctions afterward, suspending several players and coaches from both teams.

Almost the entire Gilas roster was thrown out of the game, namely Terrance Romeo, Jayson Castro, Carly Bryan Cruz, Calvin Abueva, Andray Blatche, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, Matthew Wright, and Pogoy, leaving only June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, and Baser Amer on the court as the match was declared a default win for Australia. 

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) issued a formal apology for the 2018 incident, firmly stating that “violence has no place in sports.” On the other side, Australia’s basketball program also expressed regret over the brawl but called for harsher penalties for those involved.

 Australian assistant coach and former NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, Luc Longley, went as far as accusing Gilas head coach Chot Reyes of inciting the melee. He also criticized the Philippine squad for posing for a selfie after the dust had settled, calling it a poor reflection of sportsmanship.

Things got out of control between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia as both teams figured in a free-for-all brawl at the 4:01 mark of the third quarter. #FIBAWC #ThisIsMyHouse pic.twitter.com/gUI0dKSjqO

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) July 2, 2018

In more recent years, however, relations between the two basketball federations appear to have warmed. SBP chairman Al Panlilio revealed, “I’ve developed a good relationship with the head of the federation of Australia,” hinting at a more cordial atmosphere behind the scenes.

That reconciliation may soon be tested once again. As part of the upcoming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in November, Gilas Pilipinas has been grouped with Australia, New Zealand, and Guam — setting the stage for another Filipino-Aussie showdown in Manila.

The 2018 melee remains one of the most talked-about and controversial moments in international basketball. For many, it wasn’t merely about the punches thrown or the chaos on the court; it was about pride, emotion, and the intense competitive fire between two basketball-loving nations.

Today, only a handful of figures from that fateful night — including June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, and assistant coach Jong Uichico — remain with Gilas. Yet the atmosphere within the current squad is markedly different. The focus has shifted away from past grudges and toward a singular goal: reclaiming a continental title that has eluded the Philippines for the past four decades.

Now, as Gilas Pilipinas and Australia prepare to meet again in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, the tension from that fateful night still lingers in the minds of both teams and their supporters. While both squads have since undergone major roster overhauls and coaching changes, the memory of 2018 fuels an underlying narrative heading into the rematch.

For Gilas, this game is more than just a step toward the semifinals — it’s about proving they can stand toe-to-toe with one of Asia-Pacific’s basketball powerhouses without letting emotions boil over. For Australia, it’s a chance to reassert dominance and show that the past is firmly behind them.

Whether this will be a fiery rivalry renewed or a contest decided purely by skill and strategy remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — when Gilas and Australia step onto the court, the echoes of 2018 will still hang in the air, adding an extra layer of drama to an already high-stakes showdown. 

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