South Korea National Team 2013-2014

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The build-up for the 2013 FIBA World Cup of Basketball Qualification Tournament and 2014 Incheon Asian Games will happen next week. KBL stars, military basketball players and college prospects will compete in the 2012 Korean Basketball Showcase Festival. Happening from 11-28 to 12-06, 2012.

National team players who are serving the military like Anyang KGC's Park Chan-Hee and KCC Egis guard Kang Byung-Hyun leads a team full of national team veterans like Jeong Young-Sam, Ha Seung-Jin and Yoon Ho-Young.

The Changwon LG Sakers will be in full force lead by national team forward Kim Yong-Hwan alongside aspirants in rookie Park Rae-Hyun and Byun Hyun-Soo.

College powerhouse Kyung Hee University lead by national team youth standouts Kim Jong-Kyu and Kim Min-Koo will meet a veteran Incheon ET Land squad lead by naturalized forward Moon Tae-Jong and former national team member Kang Hyuk.

One interesting game is also about Korea University versus Busan Sonicboom KT. Korea University is lead by wunderkind Lee Jong-Hyun who suited up for the national team in the Olympic qualifiers in Venezuela. His squad will face a veteran team consisting of national team shooter Cho Sung-Min alongside the legendary Seo Jang-Hoon. Maybe we'll see a Lee Jong-Hyun and Jang Jae-Suk match-up.

Other teams like SK will feature super sophomore Kim Sun-Hyung and national team forward Kim Min-Soo. Choi Jin-Soo and Kim Seung-Won of the Goyang Orions will try to defend their turf against youngsters.

Anyang KGC's superstar, Oh Sek-Eun is said to be out of this tourney. So the national team trio of Yang Hee-Jong, Kim Tae-Sul and Lee Jung-Hyun will carry the showcase.

Lee Jong-Hyun (right) with Park Ji-Soo (left / GIRL)

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The Basketball Festival Showcase opens tomorrow.

First up:

Yonsei University - Seoul SK Knights
Writers are already calling this demolish job. One can see why, SK is tied with Ulsan MP with the top record in the KBL. The team has a big three in sophomore star and still rising Kim Sun-Hyung. Park Sang-Oh, a former KBL MVP is a vocal leader. Then there is the revitalized Kim Min-Soo who has been healthy and has regained his deadly touch from the floor. While the youngsters from Yonsei seem unfazed. They said in collective statements that they are looking forward to playing a pro team. SK should watch out for Hur Hoon, son of Hur Jae, who is looking to light up SK if they do not guard him.


Chung Ang University - Anyang KGC
It would have been nice to see Oh Se-Keun suit up against his college team, but he will remain to be in the sidelines cheering half-heartedly for KGC and CUA. Jeon Song-Hyun and Lee Ho-Hyun are expected to carry the fight for Chung Ang against a team that features national team players Kim Tae-Sol and Yang Hee-Jong.

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Seoul SK Knights 77 Yonsei University 69

Hur Hoon scored and impressed with 22 points. SK's starters played lightly but the reserves did the job. Kim Woo-Gyum lead SK with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.


Chung Ang University 98 Anyang KGC 94

Standouts from Chung Ang were expected:


Lee Ho-Hyun 35 points
Jeon Sun-Hyung 33 points
Lee Jae-Hyup 13 points and 10 rebounds

While Anyang KGC were wary of their stars health on which much of the reserves played. Lee Chil-Woo, Kim Yoon-Tae and Kim Il-Du logged minutes.


KBL players took it very easy. It was more like a light scrimmage to them at times, particularly the stars. One can't blame them as the KBL season is a long way to go. They were not too rough with the youngsters either.

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Upcoming games for tomorrow, 11/29/2012:

Incheon ET Land Elephants vs. Kyung Hee University

Wonju Dongbu Promy vs. Hanyang University


Both Incheon and Wonju are veteran squads. I doubt they would want to strain themselves for this one. They will play their reserves as if were the indication from today's games. Moon Tae-Jong leads Incheon while Wonju will be cheered on by national team veterans Kim Joo-Sung, Lee Seung-Jun, Park Ji-Hyun and Lee Kwang-Jae.

For Incheon, I would like to see Cha Bawee play quality minutes.

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Hur Hoon in action against Anyang KGC.

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Incheon ET Land Elephants 65 Kyung Hee University 63

It was a good game that saw veterans trumping over the zealot of youth. Not even Kyung Hee's duo of Kim Jong-Kyu and Kim Min-Koo could salvage this one. Incheon looked old in the 3rd quarter as Kyung Hee showed some life. By the 4th quarter, it was experience that did the trick but the youth went down fighting.

Wonju Dongbu Promy 88 Hanyang University 80

Wonju had no mercy. Lee Seung-Jun showed the youngsters a monster double double of 36 points and 22 rebounds while Lee Kwang Jae buried 21 points.

Choi Won-Hyuk top scored 28 points for Hanyang while Jeong Hyu-Gyeon added 19 points.

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11/30/2012 Games:

Busan Sonicboom KT vs. Korea University

Now this is a game to watch as it will feature two of the most promising bigman of Korea. Busan's Jang Jae-Suk versus Lee Jong-Hyun, the wunderkind. Seo Jang-Hoon could be fielded for some minutes as he relishes to play with the youth. In an interview he said playing against Korea's future is a bit invigorating. One could wonder if Cho Sung-Min and Cho Dung-Hyun will play quality minutes.

Samsung Thunder vs. Dongguk University

Since Kim Seung-Hyun is out, Lee Dong-Jun and Lee Jung-Suk could see quality minutes if they chose to do so.

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Busan Sonicboom KT 83 Korea University 73

Youngsters like Lee Jong-Hyun, Lee Seung-Hyun, Park Jae-Hyun and Kim Ji-Hoo put up a well rounded team effort, but Busan's veterans proved nailed it that saw shooting from Cho Sung-Min and Kim Hyun-Joong. Busan's youngsters also showcased their stuff as Kim Hyun-Min, Jang Jae-Suk and Kim Jun-Il powered the front-court.

Freshman Lee Jong-Hyun had 5 blocks in the defensive end.


Samsung Thunder 87 Dongguk University 56

In a losing effort, Lee Dae-Hyun scored 21 points. Samsung was lead by Yoo Sung-Ho's double double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Samsung also got quality generalship from rookie point guard Choi Soo-Hyun who has done a good job running the team. Maybe he'll get more minutes with the team after this.

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December 1, 2012 Games:

SungKyunKwan University vs. Goyang Orions

Jeon Tae-Pong leads a veteran squad alongside national team members Kim Seung-Won and Kim Dong-Uk. Goyang's Choi Jin-Soo is still sidelined and will be activated next week.

Sang-Moo Phoenix vs. Changwon LG Sakers

LG is heavily at a disadvantage against Sang-Moo. Their back-court features Park Chan-Hee and Kang Byung-Hyun. This time has plenty of gunners in Yoon Ho-Young, Ham Nu-Ri and Jeong Young-Sam who are all former national team players. For LG, we will rely heavily in the shooting of national team veteran Kim Yong-Hwan and prospect, Park Rae-Hyun. The game will tell if Cho Sang-Moo can hold the paint, though very unlikely.

Expect a run and gun game if both teams have a hot start.

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SungKyunKwan University 61 vs. Goyang Orions 73

Orions letting their development players play. The speedy and gutsy Jung Jae-Hong produced with 21 points and 10 assists to lead Goyang.

Sang-Moo Phoenix 74 vs. Changwon LG Sakers 72

Sakers surprisingly hanged around Sang-Moo but a well balanced game from Park Chan-Hee lead the team. Park had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Ki Seung-Ho, who plays for the Sakers but is under the military, scored 20 points against his team. Yoon Ho-Young also seemed healthy enough for a well rounded team. Sang-Moo is a strong contender for this tourney.

Song Chang-Moo did ok. If there were no imports in the KBL, Song would be a star player.

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Park Chan-Hee in action.

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December 02, 2012 games:

Seoul SK Knights vs. Ulsan Mobis Phoebus

- I have seen them battle it out twice this season. In this game, I doubt the stars will suit up. But I'm hoping for Kim Si-Rae for Ulsan to be fielded.

Incheon ET Land Elephants vs. Goyang Orions

- I doubt the veterans will log heavy minutes. More like little used practice players + Cha Bawee and same goes for the Orions.

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December 3, 2012 Games

Incheon ET Land Elephants vs. Ulsan Mobis Phoebus

Busan Sonicboom KT vs. Sang-Moo Phoenix

Easily the game of the day. Busan has the interior advantage and could probably stay within Sang-Moo's firepower as Busan has gunners of their own. I look for Sang-Moo to run and force the tempo with their pressure track and pin point stations optimized for shooting.

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Incheon ET Land Elephants 79 vs. Ulsan Mobis Phoebus 70

Busan Sonicboom KT 72 vs. Sang-Moo Phoenix 83

Sang-Moo was more aggressive in this game and they barged into the semi-finals. They just swarmed Jang Jae-Suk and Kim Jun-Il.

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December 5, 2012 Games:

Sang-Moo Phoenix vs. Wonju Dongbu Promy

If Lee Seung-Jun suits up for Wonju, just as he did earlier in the festival, he is more than the equalizer. I look for Sang-Moo to exploit the wings and push the tempo at times. Both Sang-Moo and Wonju's wings play alike.

Incheon ET Land Elephants vs. Samsung Thunder