Massive brawl with Philippines on front pages of Australian newspapers

July 4, 2018 - 8:04 PM
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Australia's newspapers feature the wild scuffle at the Philippine Arena on Monday, July 2, 2018 between Aussie and Pinoy basketball players.

It was the most shocking event at the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers. The lopsided match that turned into a shameful on-court fistfight on Philippine soil.

The photos alone tell a good story: Professional cagers representing their the Philippines and Australia—some with NBA careers—throwing punches or at the receiving end of them. A few are rolling on the floor as athletes of massive built hover over. Some are captured doing flying kicks and jumping jabs

The story landed on front pages of newspapers in the Philippines and in Australia. Among those immortalized on paper are Magnolia Hotshots player Jio Jajalon burying his right fist on Aussie Nathan Sobey as well as Daniel Kickert of the Boomers facing off with Andre Blatche and Jayson Castro of Gilas.