Korean coach doesn’t see Gilas Pilipinas as rival

Photo from Fiba.com

MANILA, Philippines — South Korea head coach Cho Sang-Hyun doesn’t see the Philippines as a rival despite the two teams going back-and-forth in the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Cho, whose team suffered a pair of close losses to Gilas Pilipinas, said there’s no rivalry between the two squads but stressed that they learned from their opponents heading into Indonesia.

“I, personally, don’t really think of the Philippines as a rival,” said Cho through a translator after his team lost 82-77 Sunday at Angeles University Foundation.

“But I always find very useful things after playing against the Philippines. That’s what took on this game as well.”

Gilas Pilipinas celebrates after beating South Korea again in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers in Clark.

In the first meeting between Korea and the Philippines, Cho made a comment that didn’t sit well with Gilas, particularly its head coach Tab Baldwin.

After losing on a buzzer-beating triple by SJ Belangel, Cho described the winning basket as “a lucky shot” to which Baldwin retorted.

“Frankly, I think that’s pretty rich for a coach to walk off … a game in which you lose the game and to claim that it was good luck on the part of your opponent,” said Baldwin. “I don’t expect that we will be going out there to make friends on Sunday.”

Cho has had plenty of history with the Philippines being part of the South Korean side that defeated the Filipinos in the 2002 Asian Games.

South Korea has always been considered the Philippines’ tormentor in international play.

Before Gilas’ 81-78 win on Wednesday, the Philippines’ last win over South Korea was back in the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship.