KOR - Moon, Korea breathe a sigh of relief

WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) - Korea were warm favourites to defeat Japan and progress to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Asia Championship, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t well aware of the dangers their East Asia rivals presented.

“Everyone was nervous after the Iran game and how we lost that game,” star small forward Moon Taejong said after the 86-67 victory.

“We didn’t play well (against Iran) but we thought we played a little better today.”

Moon was one of the stars with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, nailing 5/9 three-pointers along the way.

He put his performance down to some adjustments the team had made in their day off.

“We had a meeting yesterday and talked about some things we could all do better offensively and I think it worked,” he said, before adding he saw it as time to step up himself. “I knew it was a knockout game so I felt that pressure to perform better, and I thought I played a little better.”

Moon, born in Korea to a Korean mother and American father, is a well travelled player.

Under his Western name, Jarod Stevenson, he has been a star in Russia, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Serbia and France before moving back to his country of birth to play for the Inchon Elephants.

He now has a dream of representing Korea at the Olympic Games, but he knows there are a couple of big obstacles standing in his team’s way.

“Obviously we’re trying to get a ticket to the London Olympics, so we’re aiming for first place,” he said.

“We know it will be tough to do against China on their home court (in the Semi-Final) but that’s what we’re aiming for.”

Though Moon has been up and down throughout the tournament, he has always found a way to contribute, as evidenced by his 16 rebounds against Iran in group play, and his all-around averages of 15.1 points, 6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

The 35-year-old veteran has made his living as a sharpshooter though, and he feels a break-out game is just around the corner.

“Exactly, I was a little bit better today, and hopefully I’m saving myself for tomorrow.”

Korea will play the winner of China and Lebanon in the Semi-Finals on Saturday night.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA