Filipino staff who “assaulted” members of the Australian basketball team in a World Cup qualifier should be permanently banned from the game, former basketball great Shane Heal has said.

Speaking to The New Daily, Heal, who was commentating the match, said Philippines staff who entered the court and became involved in Monday night’s (AEST) violent brawl “deserve a life ban”.

“In no instance should a staff member or somebody associated with their team that isn’t playing enter the court and make any sort of contact.

“I think that FIBA will come down really hard,” Heal said.

The Boomers were on track to take out the win, leading 79-48 against the Philippines when a massive fight broke out.

Australia’s Chris Goulding was knocked to the floor by Philippines guard Roger Pogoy minutes before the end of the third quarter.

Pogoy was then elbowed by Boomer Daniel Kickert, sparking an all-in brawl.

Watch the incident below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmr0ry55zxg

But Philippines coach Chot Reyes said Kickert was to blame for the “absolutely unacceptable” fight.

Speaking after the World Cup qualifier, Reyes claimed Kickert was “hitting” some of his players during the warm-up.

“The foul of Pogoy on Goulding was called a foul, an offensive foul … but he [Kickert] was the one who came in and then he hit Pogoy for the fifth time.

“You can’t expect to do that to a team five times and not expect to retaliate, so that’s what happened unfortunately.”

Heal, who played 41 games for Australia, expects the Philippines  players involved in the vicious brawl, which suspended play for about 30 minutes, will receive “lengthy suspensions”.

He said all Australian players, excluding Kickert who was blamed by the Philippines coach for starting the brawl, will not be penalised.

The Boomers were merely defending themselves from an infuriated Philippines team, Heal said.

“The fact that Australia was so dominant, frustrated the Philippines team.”

Most of the Boomers were “protecting themselves and really couldn’t have acted that differently under the circumstances”, Heal said.

He hopes this will remain an “isolated” incident.

“I’ve never seen this sort of action and behaviour before in my whole time of basketball.

“It’s certainly a dark day for the sport and a disappointing event,” Heal said.

Another Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze told Sky News on Tuesday he was shocked and disappointed by what was meant to be a “a spectacular display of basketball”.

“From time to time, when emotions are running high, you get a little bit of argy-bargy with the players.

“But when you’ve got the bench players coming on and officials coming on and throwing punches and getting involved in that type of activity, it’s quite frightening, so it’s a real black eye for the sport.”

Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore issued an apology to fans on Monday night.

“Basketball Australia deeply regrets the incident … We are extremely disappointed at what happened and our role in it.

“This is not the spirit in which sport should be played and certainly not int he spirit in which we aim to play basketball,” Mr Moore said.