South Korea National Team 2013-2014

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Sang-Moo Phoenix 74 Wonju Dongbu Promy 68

The back-court of Kang Byung-Hyun and Park Chan-Hee was very productive. Park had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Kang with 13 points while forward Yoon Ho-Young finished with 17 points as well. Rebounding and clutch shooting came through for the Phoenix as they survived the production of Lee Seung-Jun and Kim Joo-Sung.

Incheon ET Land Elephants 78 Samsung Thunder 64

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Park Chan-Hee (Anyang KGC / Sang-Moo Phoenix) in action against Wonju Dongbu Promy

Against a crowded lane


FEARLESS


Slips past Kim Joo-Sung


Celebrating after beating Wonju Dongbu Promy


Up and Under


Using the opposite side of the board against Kim Joo-Sung's wingspan

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December 6, 2012: FINALS

Sang-Moo Phoenix vs. Incheon ET Land Elephants

Many writers called it right. Sang-Moo's riflemen lead the way into the Basketball Festival Finals. Maybe Moon Tae-Jong will play.

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Sang-Moo Phoenix 65 Incheon ET Land Elephants 61

In the end, it was Sang-Moo who was left standing although Incheon and Moon Tae-Jong put up a good fight. Moon scored 30 points and hauled down 13 rebounds in a splending effort. Kang Byung-Hyun did well for this game, although he could have scored more.

[rocketstar47]

Is the legendary Kim Joo Sung will be on the NT?

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Is the legendary Kim Joo Sung will be on the NT?

Since his short-lived retirement after the 2011 FIBA Asia Qualifiers and later re-emerging with the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers Pool, he has been silent about his future participation. Last week, he neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of suiting up for next year but he did praise the likes of Kim Jong-Kyu, Lee Jong-Hyun and Jang Jae-Suk as future stars.

At this point, the federation wants to continue their theme of prime players and future considerations for next year. Similar to this year's squad who played in Venezuela.

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Lee Jong-Hyun and Lee Seung-Hyun are playing well together this early. I thought they will take some to gel and adjust to each other's presence as big-men. Lee has gotten stronger, lost body fat and improved his mobility. While Lee Jong-Hyun is improving his reflex response in shot-blocking. Both dominated Sang-Myong in the College Basketball Festival.

While Jang Jae-Suk is working hard in toning his game.

South Korea could bank in the following for the future:

Lee Jong-Hyun / Kim Jong-Kyu
Lee Seung-Hyun / Jang Jae-Suk

I see Jang JS playing as a power forward in the KBL with him being more of a finesse oriented forward with decent athletics and improving footwork as well as the honing of his mid-range game. Kim Jong-Kyu is developing nicely but is more comfortable playing as center despite his mobility and outside touch. A good match for those big-men to slide over in the wings is Choi Jin-Soo who plays better as a small forward rather than a power forward.

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Wunderkind Lee Jong-Hyun lead Korea University to a thrilling win over Sang-Moo Phoenix. Having learned his lessons against the KBL teams, Lee put up a monster game of 21 points, 17 rebounds. Lee also showed a much better defensive assertion with 3 blocks. Korea University trailed most of the first half as they had trouble containing the spirited gunners of Sang-Moo.

Second half saw Korea University take a gambit of a 2-3 buffer zone and it worked as Lee Jong-Hyun and Lee Seung-Hyun protected the lanes and reduced Sang-Moo to long range shots. In offense, KU did right by realizing that they had the interior advantage against Sang-Moo and they pounded it in with Lee JH and Lee SH.

KU won 87-72. Lee Seung-Hyun with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Moon Song-On also found his range and scored 18 points.

Korea's young bigmen did great and showcased their still growing potential.

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A good written piece from JB Mag about the state of the national team against international competition. I'm so glad jumpball published this article apart from the magazine scans I used to read.

2013: Basketball Revival in South Korea?

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The Korean Basketball Association is hoping that Lee Jong-Hyun gets an invite for the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit in April.

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Oh Sek-Eun could miss the 2013 FIBA Asia tournament due to his ankle rehabilitation from a ligament rupture. Oh SK has been a part of the national team since 2008 in the Olympic Qualifying tournament held in Athens.

Perhaps Korea could tap Kim Min-Soo, who has been playing well as of late; the vital cog in Seoul SK Knights success. Then there are youngsters like Jang Jae-Suk and Choi Buk-Yong. Veterans like Kim Dong-Uk, Yoon Ho-Young and Lee Seung Jun for consideration?

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I think it is premature for the Korean Basketball Association to tell the press that South Korea's basketball is in a re-birth with the reformation of the KBA ranks due to solidifying ties within the High school basketball orgs, College Basketball org, KBL and WKBL. The new chairman of the KBA stated stated that his ground work will be establishing better coordination of the country's basketball organization as well as improving basketball quality in the local scene.

New chairman also said that for the 2013 FIBA Asia competitions, the senior men and women's teams are to be sent abroad for better training compared to the previous years where training was confined locally due to budget constraints. Eastern Europe was mentioned as a likely destination for training. Also, proposals for sponsor backing are being prepared.

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Pang Hyeol, who coached South Korea in the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games and 1988 Seoul Olympic games is urging unity. His former players like Yu Jae-Hak, Hur Jae, and Lee Chung-Hee have expressed joy about their mentor's election.

Now it is strongly believe that the next coach for the 2013 FIBA Asia World Cup Qualification could be among Pang's former players.

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According to an editorial entry from Daum.net, Kim Joo-Sung is also questionable to suiting up for Korea after the KBL season concludes. A string of ankle and knee injuries will leave the veteran out. Much like last year's Olympic wildcard tournament, Kim JS could not make the final twelve man roster due to a knee injury. Lee Seung-Jun was selected.

First Oh Sek-Eun and now the veteran Kim Joo-Sung. It is looking likely that Lee Seung-Jun will be tapped as the latter has always been adamant in suiting up for FIBA tournaments. Kim Min-Soo is also back in form.

That leaves Lee Seung-Jun and Kim Min-Soo to partner in the PF while wunderkind Lee Jong-Hyun and Kim Jong-Kyu as centers. Ironic in which the center players are the youngest while the power forward spots happens to be the most tenured.

I don't think Jang Jae-Seok is ready and given his under-usage in Busan, it might not be ideal to consider him for the Manila tournament. Maybe the FIBA East Asia qualifiers could see Jang JS suit up and also be a part of the 2014 Asian games team for consideration. There are also PF's like former KBL MVP Ham Ji-Hoon of Ulsan. Kim Dong-Uk who shoots better outside than inside and is a member of the national team that played in the wildcard Olympic qualifiers. The SK rookie, Choi Bu-Kyong who has a knack to clean the glass and hustle. They can also consider Korea University's Lee Seung-Hyun.

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Lee Jong-Hyun #32 added some mass and is still improving his upper body strength. Lee Seung-Hyun showing some improvement on his touch around the basket. The two blends well together.