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Unified Korea defeats host in historic game

Tightly checked: Indonesia’s Henny Sutjiono (center) goes for a lay-up under pressure from Unified Korea’s Hyejin Park (left) and Hana Park during their Group X match of the 2018 Asian Games at the Senayan Basket Hall in Jakarta on Wednesday

Ramadani Saputra (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, August 16, 2018

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Unified Korea defeats host in historic game

T

ightly checked: Indonesia’s Henny Sutjiono (center) goes for a lay-up under pressure from Unified Korea’s Hyejin Park (left) and Hana Park during their Group X match of the 2018 Asian Games at the Senayan Basket Hall in Jakarta on Wednesday. (Courtesy of INASGOC/Rocky Padila)

The Unified Korea’s women’s basketball team proved too powerful for the host team as captain Lim Yung-hui and her compatriots dominated their opening match of the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday night, crushing Indonesia 108-40 in their Group A match up at the basketball hall at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

The 2018 Asian Games marks the fifth time Unified Korea teams have competed in a sporting event after the World Table Tennis Championships in 1991 and 2018, the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

According to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), apart from basketball, the two Koreas would field joint teams in men’s and women’s dragon boat racing — a discipline in the canoeing category — as well as in men’s lightweight four, men’s lightweight eight and women’s lightweight double sculls in rowing.

The Unified Korea team coach Lee Moon-kyu said the joint team only had 14 days to train together before coming to Jakarta.

Unified Korea player Park Hye-jin said the limited time was not, however, an obstacle for the team, as the teammates had no difficulty blending together as a full squad, adding that she was happy to be a part of the team.

The gap in talent between the Unified Korea and Indonesia sides was evident throughout the game, as Unified Korea went on the attack, exploiting Indonesia’s weakness in guarding its shooters.

Indonesian captain Henny Sutjiono and her compatriots were bombarded by the impressive offensive play of the Unified Korean team.

Six minutes into the first quarter, Unified Korea had raced to a 15-2 lead. Indonesia attempted to breach the gap by increasing its offensive play but was let down by poor shooting accuracy.

Supported by dozens of spectators waving Unified Korea flags, the team finished the first quarter with a commanding lead, 25-8.

Indonesia attempted to step up its game in the second quarter.

Center Sophia Gabriel scored the first two points of the quarter for Indonesia from the free throw line after being fouled.

However, Unified Korea immediately replied, scoring the next three points. The 182 centimeter North Korean Ro Yong-suk, who finished the match as the top scorer, then increased her team’s lead with a classy lay-up.

One of the shortest players on the court, Natasha Debby Christaline, scored Indonesia’s first three pointer of the tournament in the second minute of the quarter.

Unified Korea maintained its tight defense, and was rarely troubled by Indonesia’s attacking forays.

As the match wore on, Indonesia’s inability to effectively guard the Unified Korea shooters became more and more evident, with Indonesia’s loose defense providing its opponents with ample opportunities to sink three pointers.

The first half finished with Unified Korea up 58-20.

The Indonesian supporters, who outnumbered their counterparts two-to-one, were silenced as their team fell into disarray, unsure whether to defend or attack.

Unified Korea’s domination continued until the end of the match, recording a resounding 108-40 victory.

Indonesian coach Arif Gunarto, who was seen calling out instructions from sidelines in an attempt to encourage his protégées, acknowledged that the two teams were on different levels in terms of talent.

“[Unified] Korea was not our target. We are now preparing for our next matches against Kazakhstan and India [where we will have a greater chance to win],” he said in a post-match interview, adding that he would focus on improving his team’s defense and finishing.

Sophia said nerves had gotten the best of the team, praising her opponents who were more advanced in terms of speed and rotations during the game.

“We are a new team. We gave it our best, but our execution was still far [from the best],” she said.

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