The Philippines continued its decades-long losing battle to South Korea in the Asian Games, this time reeling to a 91-82 defeat to bow out of the 2018 men’s basketball medal race Monday.
After the Filipinos managed to keep up with their rivals for three quarters and even lead by eight, the South Koreans slowly pulled away midway the fourth quarter with the locals finally finding their killer touch from three.
“I take responsibility for it (loss). We were in the game until the last 5-6 minutes,” said head coach Yeng Guiao after the game. “We were not just comfortable with the zone (defense).”
The hastily-formed national team was even ahead 68-67 in the payoff period before South Korea, which only shot 35% from three, started breaking down the Filipinos with one triple after the other.
A 13-4 run from the Koreans highlighted by three threes put them in the lead for good.
Philippines’ Jordan Clarkson shoots as South Korea’s Lee Seoung-hyun tries to block during the men’s basketball competition at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
The Filipinos dropped to the classification phase of the tournament, where they can get as high as fifth place, which will still be an improvement from their seventh-place finish in the 2014 Incheon Games.
Jordan Clarkson kept the Philippines alive and wound up with 25 points including four triples, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Christian Standhardinger added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Filipinos while Stanley Pringle had 14 points.
The loss extended the Philippines’ misery against South Korea in the continental meet. The last time the Filipinos won over the Koreans was in the 1970 edition in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Koreans, meanwhile, advanced for a shot at the medal against the quarterfinal winner between Iran and Japan.
Naturalized center Ricardo Ratliffe, who played as an import in the PBA, unleashed 30 points and 14 rebounds for South Korea.