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‘Protect the head and wait it out’: Boomer Goulding on basketball brawl

Troy Rike protects the fallen Chris Goulding during the infamous basketball biff session.

Troy Rike protects the fallen Chris Goulding during the infamous basketball biff session. Photo: Twitter

Boomers sharpshooter Chris Goulding says he just tried to protect his head for what felt like a “hell of a long time” as Philippines’ players and officials swarmed over him during the infamous World Cup qualifier brawl.

“I was on the ground and 10 to 15 people were on top of me with chairs and everything you can imagine,” he told SEN Radio on Thursday.

“I wasn’t thinking I might lose my life. It was just literally protect the head and just wait it out.”

The trouble erupted during Australia’s 89-53 win over the Philippines in Bulacan, and is being investigated by FIBA.

The fight during the FIBA World Cup qualifying match in Bulacan. Photo: AAP

Goulding also said he was “very thankful” to Australian assistant coach Luc Longley, who came to his rescue as he was attacked while lying on the floor behind one end of the court.

His problems began when he was kicked in the back by a Philippines player, who came from the bench as the brawl erupted after Daniel Kickert retaliated with a forearm to a brutal off-the-ball foul on Goulding.

“He kicked me down under the ring and that’s when I was set upon,” Goulding said.

He said fellow guard Nathan Sobey had also tried to come to his aid.

“Sobey saw me down there, he knew what was going on and he tried to come and help and he had a chair thrown at him and then he was coward punched,” he said.

“It’s just something you never think you would experience.”

“It felt like a hell of a long time.”

Meanwhile, the ABC reports that Philippines player Troy Rike has received a cash reward for protecting Goulding during the fight.

The ABC said Philippines media had reported that Rike, a 22-year-old Fiipino-American, had received a commendation and a 200,000 peso ($5000) reward for standing over the fallen Goulding.

Rike accepted the commendation from national team backer Bounty Agro Ventures on Tuesday. He apparently intends to donate some of the money to charities in the Philippines and in Australia.

“Players and my teammates express their regret for their actions and some Australian players have expressed their regret as well,” he told ABS/CBN News.

“Obviously, both of us wish what happened would not have had happened because that is not what either country is about.

“We can’t take that back and the only thing we could do is move forward and do some good with that.”

-with agencies

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