“bruised and battered” Australian team feared for its safety and sought government help to escape the court after a mass brawl with the Philippine side at an international match in Manila, officials said.

A HUGE brawl broke out during the clash between 🇦🇺 Australia and 🇵🇭 Philippines at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers !

ROOT CAUSE:

-Australia, while practicing yesterday at the Philippine arena, removed the sponsor stickers from the floor of the court without authority. This pissed the SBP and treats this as disrespect.

-Australia started the trash talk vs the Filipinos while warming up before the game when the PH players stepped onto the half court line while warming up.

-Players from Australia were trash talking the Filipino players every time they take free throws. RR Pogoy had enough of it and intensionally fouled an Ausie player, promtping that player to kick him, and promting Andre Blatche to return a punch to the Ausie. And the rest is history. Almost everyone joined the brawl.