AUSTRALIAN players and coaches feared for their safety as the Boomers’ FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier against the Philippines descended into chaos on Monday night.

An all-in brawl during the third quarter led to officials getting involved in violent scuffles, with Australian players mostly on the receiving end of multiple attacks..

A total of 13 players from both sides were ejected, and the game was ended prematurely; the Philippines being forced to forfeit.

Basketball Australia CEO, Anthony Moore, said he’d never seen anything like it in his career.

“It was on a knife’s edge,” he said, according to The Daily Telegraph.

“Players and coaches were fearful of their physical safety. That’s how significant the issue was last night postgame.

“Every time we play the Philippines ... they’re really physical games. They’re tough, competitive games. But we have had nothing like this.

“There was nothing like that in the first half that even indicated that this is about to happen.”

Midway through the third quarter of a chippy second half, a Filipino offensive foul led to an all-in scuffle, with multiple Australian players appearing to be assaulted.

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After a lengthy review, a Filipino official who spoke at the arena said the game would be continuing.

The Boomers were leading 79-48, when Chris Goulding was elbowed in the face, then shoulder charged in the midsection. That led to Daniel Kickert throwing an elbow at the Philippines’ Roger Ray Pogoy, with both teams then getting engaged in a violent altercation.

After Kickert’s elbow, the vision shows Jayson Castro and Andray Blatche charging at him, before multiple Filipino bench players also approach the big-man. A separate incident targeting Nathan Sobey then broke out, with Thon Maker appearing to launch multiple flying kicks to protect his teammate.

A total of 13 ejections were handed out. Four Australians — Thon Maker, Daniel Kickert, Nathan Sobey, and Chris Goulding — were ejected, along with nine Filipino players.

The nine Filipino players ejected were: Japeth Aguilar, Jeth Rosario, Roger Ray Pogoy, Terrence Bill Romeo, Matthew Wright, Calvin Abueva, Andray Blatche, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Jayson Castro.

The Filipino bench was cleared during the brawl, with the entire home team seemingly getting involved in the incident, while the likes of Thon Maker and Kickert may be reprimanded for their respective roles in the altercation.

The Australian coaching staff rushed to the scene in an attempt to halt the fighting.

DISGRACE. Absolute Disgrace. — Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2018

One of the more egregious moments was when a chair was thrown at Australia’s Sobey, while Goulding was pinned on the ground and punched by multiple members of the Filipino team.

The game continued, with Australia having eight eligible players remaining, against the Philippines’ three.

Daniel Kickert retaliates after the elbow from the Philipines player. Source: Supplied

Kickert is surrounded by Filipino players. Source: FOX SPORTS

The Philippines ran with Gabe Norwood, June Mar Fajardo, and Baser Amer. Fajardo and Norwood appeared to purposely foul themselves out, bringing a close to the game.

Moore released a statement on the incident following the game.

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

The brawl occurred in the third quarter. Source: AP

Mathew Wright (L) of the Philipines engage Daniel Kickert of Australia. Source: AFP

“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.”

The game ended at the 1:57 mark of the third quarter, with Australia coming away with the 89-53 victory.

Goulding led the Boomers with 20 points, while Kickert had 12 points off the bench.

Blatche finished with a team-high 12 points for the Philippines.

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Olgun Uluc covers basketball for Fox Sports Australia. Twitter: @OlgunUluc

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