MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas did not back down from the physical and dirty tactics of the previously unbeaten Russian club Spartak Primorye.
Emotions ran high in the highly-physical encounter which Gilas won, 85-71, to improve to 2-1 win-loss card in the 37th William Jones Cup.
A near melee erupted at the onset of the first quarter when Romeo traded cheap shots with Spartak top gunner Aleksei Goliakhov. As the referee were trying to separate the two players, Alimdzhan Fediushin threw the ball on Romeo's face triggering a near bench-clearing fight with center Asi Taulava running after the Russian center.
Cooler heads intervened while Goliakhov, Romeo and Fediushin were assessed with a technical foul each.
Watch the video below:
Gilas Pilipinas and Russia Scuffle#88Unknown
Posted by PBA and NBA World on Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Earlier, Sonny Thoss also got bloodied by Fediushin's wayward elbow.