KOR - Cutting his teeth at the top level

ULAANBAATAR (FIBA Asia Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It's not often that a team can lose both games at an event yet still walk away feeling good about its performance but that was certainly the case for Korea at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

One of the big underdogs before travelling to Caracas, Venezuela, coach Lee Sang Beaom was missing a lot of the big names from past Korean teams yet had his squad ready to play against Russia, and the Dominican Republic.

Korea played hard, and smart, and created many an awkward moment for both opponents before suffering defeats in each.

A true bright spot was the play of Jonghyun Lee, a 2.06m center who is just 18 years of age.

Lee, against some of the finest international competition around, averaged 19 minutes and was particularly effective against the Dominicans with five points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.

The Dominicans won that game, 95-85.

The primary aim of Korea was to gain experience for players like Lee, who should be an important factor for the team at next year's FIBA Asia Championship when the national side attempts to earn a spot in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"It (the OQT) was a great learning experience," Lee said.

"I picked up a lot of points playing with the senior team and also against some of the top teams.

"One of the teams I played against (Russia) went on to win the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics itself.

"That’s how tough the competition was.

"But for me, that’s how useful the experience was."

Lee, who was speaking at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship that was just held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, had a far greater impact in his own age group.

In Sunday's Final, he was 10 of 12 from the floor and scored 24 points for Korea but China prevailed, 93-91.

Wang Zhelin, another up-and-coming star in Asia who wowed fans at the Nike Hoop Summit back in April with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, led China to victory in Mongolia.

He had 18 points and 13 rebounds in the title game and like Lee, could feature at the first FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA