Thon Maker (L) says he disagrees with the three-match ban handed down by FIBA.
Camera IconThon Maker (L) says he disagrees with the three-match ban handed down by FIBA. Credit: Getty Images, Getty

Brawl ruling: Thon Maker disagrees with FIBA ruling, Boomers guard Jason Cadee says Australians knew they weren’t guilty of racism

MATT LOGUEThe Daily Telegraph

THON Maker has hit out at FIBA’s rulings over the basket-brawl which shamed the sport this month, saying he disagrees with the three-game ban he has been slugged with while pinning the blame on a lack of security at the World Cup qualifier.

Maker was given a three-game ban for his role in the fight, where he cleared the sparring teams by leaping in to the fray with raised knees, but says he felt a need to protect his teammates.

Boomers basketballers Thon Maker (L) and Chris Goulding (R) both copped bans from FIBA.
Camera IconBoomers basketballers Thon Maker (L) and Chris Goulding (R) both copped bans from FIBA. Credit: Getty Images, Getty

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Teammate Daniel Kickert (five matches) and Chris Goulding (one match) were also handed bans, while Basketball Australia received a $135,000 fine.

“While remaining respectful of FIBA as a governing body for basketball with a duty to protect the integrity and sanctity of our game, I disagree with their decision to sanction me for three games,” Maker wrote on Twitter on Friday.

“I tried to break up a conflict, but without security things quickly devolved into a very dangerous situation where I needed to act to protect my teammates and myself from imminent harm.

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“As a human being I cannot turn my back on anyone, Australian or Filipino, teammate or not, who is being attacked by a mob without the adequate help from security.”

Meanwhile, Boomers guard Jason Cadee says the FIBA investigation didn’t have to clear Australian players of racism for the team to know they would never racially abuse rival players.

On top of suspending and fining 13 players and coaching staff, FIBA’s investigation also determined that no racist language was used by Australian players or nor did it incite the incident as has been alleged.

This emphatically ended racism claims made by freelance photojournalist Winston Baltasar, who was covering the World Cup qualifier between Australia and the Philippines on July 2.

Jason Cadee said the Australian players had a clear conscience.
Camera IconJason Cadee said the Australian players had a clear conscience. Credit: Getty Images

In an interview with Australia’s ABC Radio program The Ticket, Baltasar said Australian players called Gilas Pilipinas players “monkey” during the game and before the fight.

Baltasar, however, could not identify which Australian players he heard using the racial slur.

These claims were also strongly denied by the Australian Basketballers’ Association (ABA) and Basketball Australia in a joint statement.

Cadee welcomed FIBA’s findings, but stressed the Boomers always knew they were innocent.

“We didn’t need justification as a group — we knew we didn’t do anything like that,” Cadee told The Daily Telegraph.

“We decided as a group to let the proceedings take place and do the right thing and stay away.

“We had all these things get thrown around as to reasons why the (brawl) happened, but none of those things happened.

“It (racism) is not who we are and the fact people tried to use that as an excuse to why things got out of control — it was sad to hear.

“As a group we thought it was ridiculous — we had no reason to start doing stuff like that and why would we ever go down that path.

“But it’s nice it has been resolved.”

Philippines coach Chot Reyes also previously conceded he didn’t hear any Australian Boomers racially abuse his players during last week’s ugly brawl in Manila.

In an interview on SportsCenter Philippines earlier this month, Reyes was asked if Australia’s players used derogatory terms to describe the Philippines players.

“No, I can say honestly that’s fake news,” Reyes said.

“I didn’t hear or didn’t have any notion that they were calling our players those terms at halftime, so I didn’t see it.”