KOR / KUW – No stopping Korean juggernaut

TIANJIN (FIBA Asia Championship) - East Asia champions Korea were as clinical as expected and opened their campaign in Group E eight-final round with a 78-58 win over Kuwait on Monday.

Korea coach Hur Jae inducted his Ha Seung-jin in the starting line-up and as is his wont the 221-cm centre influenced the proceedings right from the word go.

Ha was benched in the latter part of the first quarter, and took no further part on the court, but had done the damage drawing three fouls, collecting three rebounds and scoring four points all in the first quarter.

Yang Donggeun fired in three three-pointers, interspersed by Ha’s under-the-board success, as Korea reeled off a 14-0 scoring spree in the closing minutes of the first quarter.

Kuwait were left playing catch up after that.

Yang Donggeun played only the first half for his 11 points.

Yang Heejong rested the entire second quarter, yet led Korea’s scoring with a game-high 16 points, in a 5/8 field record, including 3/6 in long rangers.

Shayee Saeed’s 18 points was the highest for Kuwait – and the game.

Mohammad Almutairi contributed 14 points.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia

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