Pinoys face odds vs Koreans, fans

BUSAN, South Korea – Forget the China debacle, the Houdini act against Japan, the businesslike thrashing of the rest, for this is the one and only game that matters.

After its five-game run of four wins and one loss, the Nationals move into the semifinals against arch rival South Korea for that passage into the final and into the gold that has been kept away from the nation the past 40 years.

Game time is 3 p.m., 2 p.m. in the Philippines, where for the next two hours time will literally stand still.

Korea will have an abundance of "Homeplus‚" as the giant malls that tower over this sleek coastal city are called. It has a team with superb and deadly firepower, a supercharged offensive built around a slew of veterans, a home crowd so raucous and loud and some nuances on calls that may go the host’s way.

And the Koreans were up to their old tricks again, preventing the Filipinos from practicing and testing the Sajik Gym where the semifinals and the finals will be held.

Some gymnastic finals were being held there, organizers said, although they allowed the Koreans to work out in the venue in mid-morning and sent Nationals to a practice facility at the Busan Educational and Cultural Center some three kilometers from the Busan Main Stadium.

But the Nationals have trained long and hard for this game, nine months in all, and may take heart from the shocking loss of the Koreans to the Iranians in the semifinals of football, its pride and joy following its success in the World Cup.

So an upset is not discounted. And if the Filipinos pulled it off, it will spark instant celebration and a sweep of joy to a country in the throes of economic difficulties.

China will play Kazakhstan in the other semis game at 7 p.m. with the winner disputing the gold with the victor of the RP-Korea tiff Monday. The losers play for the bronze tomorrow.

"They have a strong resolve to beat Korea. They know they have to make up for that loss to China and prove they can improve their showing against the Chinese the first time, so they’re looking forward to this game," said PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino.

The Koreans blasted the Centennials of coach Tim Cone four years ago in Bangkok, 103-83, in the quarterfinals that sent the Filipinos to a head-on clash with the Chinese in the semis and went on to salvage the bronze.

Four of the Nationals–Kenneth Duremdes, Olsen Racela, Dennis Espino and Andy Seigle–who were carryovers from that team, were still smarting from the loss and looking forward to this showdown better armed with Fil-Ams in the cast.

"We’ve been practicing and everybody’s excited to play. We can’t afford to come out flat like we did against China and must come up with a lot of energy and hope to play the right game against China," said 6-foot-9 Asi Taulava, the top scorer for the team with a total of 74 points and 14.8 average in five games.

Jeffrey Cariaso, whose three-point play won it over Japan, 79-74, in the quarterfinals, also said the team is raring to play. He said: "We understand how big this is. We gonna come out and really play well. I think we’re ready, we’ve been practicing long for this one game."

"The match-up is very similar on every position so what I was worried about is how the calls are gonna go. It will be a huge factor for or against us," said Rudy Hatfield.

Racela said they have put the China massacre behind them and are concentrated on the task at hand. He said: "Importante sa amin ito. Pag tinalo namin ang Korea, it will give us a chance to play China again and improve on our showing four years ago."

The Nationals worked out a defense against two of Korea’s feared shooters–Moon Kyun Eun and Bang Sung Yoon and an interior defense against the 6-foot-10 Seo Jang Hoon.

Moon led the Koreans’ offensives with 114 points and a 22.8 average, making 39 of 54 field goals for 72.2 clip and 28 of 39 three-point shots for 71.8 shooting clip. Bang has 50 percent shooting average, 22 of 44, and nine of 26 from beyond the arc.

In all, the Koreans have a 108-point-for average, a 73.6-point-against norm and 58.7 shooting percentage on 219 of 373 shooting. The Philippines has a scoring average of 76.6 in five games and 70.8 points against with only 43.9 shooting clip–147 of 335.

"We did the best we could to prepare and worked months for this one game and we’re ready," said national coach Jong Uichico.

ASIAD NOTES: Go bold and bald–the Nationals have agreed to shave their heads if they beat the Koreans tonight… When the past, present and future stars of Philippine basketball met for a friendly $50 bet on a free throw shooting, who do you think will win? Assistant coach Allan Caidic, Kenneth Duremdes and Dondon Hontiveros engaged in the contest after their workout and Caidic banked one in to win it all… The PBA had hired a bus for use of its personnel outside of the team bus assigned to the players and it is costing it $500 a day… "Maybe I will just dye my hair," said the white-haired assistant manager Elmer Yanga on a team dare to go bald if they beat the Koreans… Henry Cojuangco, team co-owner of SMB, attends the team practice, giving moral support to the team… It will be a sellout crowd at the Sajik Gym and tickets are premium, and when Jun B. ordered for 10 tickets for SMC chair Danding Cojuangco and party, the Korean official whom he was dealing with ordered 10 more when Jun wasn’t looking… The team had a Filipina guide who speaks fluent Korean–Eulalia Antolin. She’s married to an orthodontist, Dr. Yong Soo Jang, and they have two kids aged 5 and 3… Rhea Navarro of Asian Basketball Confederation is also helping the team to coordinate with local officials.