Basketbrawl! Chaotic scenes as fistfight breaks out in Australia vs. Philippines basketball match

An Australian player is hit with a chair. Photo / Twitter

Australia's match against the Philippines has descended into chaos after a fist fight broke out during the pair's FIBA World Cup qualifying clash.

The ugly eruption broke out at the Philippine Arena with just over four minutes left in the third quarter with Australia ahead 79-48.

The explosive encounter, which led to objects being thrown around the court as players wildly threw punches, was sparked after Boomers guard Chris Goulding was shoved to the floor.

Aussie Daniel Kickert reacted immediately, landing a punch opposition player. Chaos ensued as the Filipino side raced into the melee. Aussie NBA star Thon Maker was seen throwing knees in the enconuter as chairs flew behind the court.

Oh my god. He threw a chair! #Boomers pic.twitter.com/9T5bs5VLou

— Ricky Mangidis (@rickm18) July 2, 2018

And while we played China in “Basketball” on Sunday.... Australia... well they... 🤨

Posted by Marc Peard Sports on Monday, July 2, 2018

The game was halted as officials reviewed the situation and pondered over the possibility of pulling the match.

"(We) want to appeal to everybody to please settle down," the game's announcer said. "We didn't want (that to happen). We will wait for referee's decision, but please I would like us to respect the game."

Officials eventually ejected 13 players from the game, including Aussies Nathan Sobey, Chris Goulding, Maker and Kickert.

This just happened. After one of the wildest on-court brawls in recent memory, the Philippines team pauses to pose for a selfie, like there’s something to celebrate pic.twitter.com/fTXAaBA5lp

— Mitchell Scott (@MitchellBScott) July 2, 2018

The game was incredibly allowed to carry on despite the Philippines having only three players available for the remainder of the quarter.

The match was eventually forfeited by the home side at the close of the third.

Commentator Shane Heal said the decision to allow the game to carry on was "laughable" after the farcical situation died down.

Social media exploded at the scenes, with some fans claiming the brawl trumped LeBron James' stunning A$208m transfer to the LA Lakers as the biggest basketball news of the day.

Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore released a statement after the damaging incident unfolded.

Statement from @AnthonyMoore, CEO of @BasketballAus as published by @nbl: pic.twitter.com/NG5ak3kiBy

— Tom Hersz (@tomhersz) July 2, 2018

They're playing on. 5 v 3. Hard to think of a more farcical situation. #FIBAWC

— Ben Waterworth (@bjwaterworth) July 2, 2018

Who’d have thought there was going to be a bigger basketball news story today than LeBron joining the Lakers? And our own @BasketballAus Boomers are up to their ears in it. #Boomers #FIBAWC #FIBA #basketbrawl

— Brett Keeble (@BrettKeeble) July 2, 2018

HOLY HELL this is disgraceful #FIBAWC #boomers https://t.co/GSuvwHoSFQ

— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) July 2, 2018