'Disgraceful' Philippines slammed for offensive selfie after Australian Boomers brawl

Philippines power forward Marc Pringis has removed a post from his Instagram account after a public backlash to the team posing for a selfie following their ugly all-in brawl with the Australian Boomers during a FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier.

Basketball Australia and FIBA are investigating the incident which saw 13 players ejected from the game – nine from the Philippines and four from Australia – after an all-in brawl was sparked when Boomers’ Daniel Kickert retaliated for an act of foul play against teammate Chris Goulding.

The Boomers have subsequently left the Philippines ahead of schedule with Basketball Australia chief executive Anthony Moore saying that players and coaches were in fear for their safety in the immediate aftermath to the incident.

Moore admitted he thought it was inappropriate that the Philippines team posed for a selfie after the fight, with members proudly crowding around the phone of Pringis and smiling broadly after one of the ugliest incidents in basketball history.

"I found that very strange that they seemed to be enjoying the moment," Moore said.

Former Australian Boomer Andrew Bogut, who had already been critical of the fight, was also quick to slam their behaviour after sarcastically labelling it as “class.”

Others were less kind than Bogut, with comments ranging from “disgraceful” and “shameful” to calls to ban the country all together.

There is no timeframe to the investigation being conducted by FIBA and Basketball Australia but those players and officials involved are facing serious sanctions.