Aussies in Gilas brawl: Can we get out of here unscathed?

The Australian basketball team admitted that they feared for their safety after a brawl broke out between them and Gilas Pilipinas on Monday night during the FIBA Basketball World Cup matchup at the Philippine Arena.

"We had our players and out team management and our coaches in fear of their physical safety. That's a fairly compelling set of circumstances that 'Are we going to be able to get out of here unscathed?" Basketball Australia chief executive Anthony Moore said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Moore also lashed out at the alleged involvement of some fans and officials in the fight, deeming it as "unacceptable" and "alarming."

"Whilst we accept our responsibility for our role in last night's incident, what we don't accept is the action whereby fans and officials actually get involved in the fray," he said.

Moore mentioned where one of their players, Nathan Sobey, was assaulted by a fan, and Chris Goulding faced a "pack of players and officials" on the court. He also condoned a fan who threw a chair at one of their players.

"We got in a situation where the fray actually spills off the court and get spectators involved as well as match officials. That's the one that's we're most concerning for us."

"It was absolutely alarming that one of our players surrounded by 20 people with a significant amount of physical altercation occuring," Moore added.

Moore said after the altercation, the priority for the team was to get them out of the court safely. He said the Australian team planned to leave the Philippines Tuesday morning.

"Physically our players are fine. They’re bruised and battered. We don't have any breaks or anything like that. But really, it's the mental health of our players we're absolutely concerned about. The critical issue for us last night was making sure that our players are safely able to leave the arena."

Moore thanked the Australian embassy and consular officials from getting them out of the court and back into their hotel.

The Basketball Australia CEO also said they are now awaiting FIBA's decisions on the sanctions for both teams.

During the game, Australia was in control 79-48, when Gilas Pilipinas guard Roger Pogoy and Boomers wingman Chris Goulding got tangled up on a drive.

Australia big man Daniel Kickert responded with a forearm on Pogoy, after which Jayson Castro hit Kickert.

All hell broke loose after that, with both teams getting in on the action. —Jamil Santos/NB, GMA News