JAKARTA (2015 FIBA Asia U16 Championship) - Korea dropped their first game in three outings losing 65-91 to China in Group D of the competition, but coach Seil Oh refused to throw in the towel just as yet.

"Yes we lost the game; but we lost to a very strong and tall China team,” Oh said.

"At half-time, I asked the players to save energy for the upcoming games because win or lose against China we were always going to qualify to the Second Round Group stages.

Korea twice made it to the FIBA Asia U16 Championship finals in 2009 and 2011, but lost out to China in both occasions and the 53-year-old believes that the three-time Champions are once again the team to beat in Jakarta.

"China are always the favorites; they have skillful and tall players in the team, it will be hard for any team to beat them," he stressed.

 "But nothing is impossible and I believe that there’s a possibility of beating them the next time we face each other in this championship."

Korea finished 5th in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Tehran. Oh said his boys were determined to take Korea back into the Finals.

"It was disappointing for us to finish 5th in 2013 especially after finishing 2nd in 2009 and 2011, but I’m confident that this team will do better this time."

FIBA