MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Basketball Australia has issued a statement regarding the brawl which ensued in the qualifying game between its players and the Gilas Pilipinas team:

“Basketball Australia deeply regrets the incident in tonight’s match between the Boomers and the Philippines in Manila. We are extremely disappointed with what happened and our role in it,” Basketball Australia chief executive Anthony Moore said.

“This is not the spirit in which sport should be played and certainly not in the spirit in which we aim to play basketball.

“We apologise to our fans and will await the penalties to be handed down.”

“In hindsight, our players shouldn’t have worn their yellow jersey.  We didn’t realize that the Dilawan (Yellows) are very much hated by the Filipinos.”