Korea lose to New Zealand in first FIBA Asia Cup group stage game

Korea's Park Ji-su drives for basket during a 2023 FIBA Asia Cup game against New Zealand at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre in Sydney on Monday. [AFP/YONHAP]

The Korean women’s basketball team lost 66-64 to New Zealand in their first FIBA Asia Cup Group A game on Monday at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre in Sydney, Australia, failing to secure a win ahead of two group stage games.

Korea failed to display their best performance in the beginning, losing the first quarter 20-12, before losing the second quarter 41-25.

Korea attempted to bounce back, with Park Ji-su scoring multiple points and managed to end the third quarter 52-46.

They rode that momentum in the fourth quarter with Park showing good cohesion with Kang Lee-seul and Kim Dan-bi and took the score all the way to 64-64.

It then came down to who scores first to take the victory, but Korea allowed a 2-pointer 25 seconds before the end of the game.

Kim attempted a 3-pointer in the last five seconds to turn things around, but it did not go in, losing the game 66-64.

Park, Kang and Kim were the most notable Korean trio despite the loss, with Park and Kang having managed 18 points apiece and Kim scoring 14, although they were all behind top scorer Penina Davidson with 24.

The loss is still a bitter result for Korea, who now has to beat China and Lebanon in the remaining group stage games in order to be in with a chance of earning a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers.

The teams that finish in the top four of the Asia Cup — an eight-team tournament — will be eligible to participate in the qualifiers.

The two first-placed teams from Group A and B, determined by a round-robin format, will directly advance to the semifinals, while the second will play third-placed teams in a playoff round to decide the two other semifinalists.

A knockout system will then be used in the semifinal and final games.

Group B includes defending champion Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia and the Philippines.

Japan won the tournament in 2021 with a 78-73 victory over China, while Korea finished in fourth place that year.

Korea still remains the winningest team in tournament history, having secured the Asia Cup title 12 times in total. Their last victory was in 2007 when they beat China 79-73 in the final.

Korea will face Lebanon on Tuesday at 11 a.m. or 10 a.m. Korea time, before taking on China on Wednesday, all set to take place at the same venue as Monday’s game.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]