KOR – Disbelieving Yang, Koreans a sporting chance

WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) – Korea finished a disappointing seventh at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship, and if star point guard Yang Donggeun is any indication, it is taking a while for the team to rebuild its confidence.

“Not really,” Yang responded when asked if he felt Korean basketball belonged on the Olympic stage.
 
Korea’s first two games have potentially told a different story.

Day 1 saw an 89-42 thrashing of Malaysia, followed by an impressive 80-62 win over Lebanon on Day 2. This is not something Yang was expecting either.

“Not really, we didn’t expect that. We didn’t know much about the Lebanese players, but we were focussed on our game,” he said, before showing the first sign of optimism.

“We are getting used to each other, it gets better every day.”
 
Many experts see Korea as a genuine medal threat however, backing up their gold medal at this year’s East Asia Championship, and a silver at the 2010 Asian Games.
 
Against Lebanon, Korea shot the three-ball at 47%, out-rebounded their taller opponents and forced them into 22 turnovers, showing they have the elements in their game to return the podium, where they collected bronze in 2007.

Yang, who turned 30 two days before the tournament, led the way with an amazing display of 20 points on 3/4 three-point shooting, seven assists, five steals and four rebounds to edge Korea one step closer to London.

While he might yet believe his team can make it, for Yang it is something he has been aiming towards for a long time.

“I always wanted to be at the Olympics, my entire life. Ever since I started playing basketball in the fifth grade at school,” he said.
 
“If we have the possibility, even just one per cent, we are going to try and win it,” he added.

“We are getting a lot of good young players and we are getting better all the time.”
 
Korea face India in their final game of the preliminary round on Saturday.
 
Paulo Kennedy

FIBA