(Eagle News) — Australian player Daniel Kickert expressed regret over the Philippine-Australia brawl that marred their World Cup qualifying match on Monday, July 2.
“It’s a regrettable situation. I was pretty put in a position I think where I obviously made an action which is regrettable and unfortunate,” Kickert said in an ESPN interview.
According to Kickert, “I think I overstepped a little bit with my response to the escalation in the game, and I regret those things.”
“It’s not good to put a stain on anything as a good trip for the boys and would have been a good win. I think ended poorly with a controversial issue obviously,” Kickert said.
He said he would “let FIBA do everything that they need to do to take the time, go through the process and come to the answers that they see fit and bring down the sanctions that they bring down.”
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes accused Kickert of instigating the brawl, saying he “hit” several of his players–Calvin Abueva, Carl Bryan Cruz, Matthew Wright and RR Pogoy–even during the warm-ups.
It was also Kickert who was seen elbowing Pogoy in the third quarter, after the Gilas member was called out for an offensive foul against Australian Chris Goulding.
The Philippines lost to Australia by default.
