The Korean men’s basketball team, ravaged by COVID-19, will be skipping the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers this week at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, thereby forfeiting its four-game assignment.
One more player tested positive for the virus hours before their departure to Manila on Monday evening, sending Korean basketball officials into an emergency meeting.
Officials of the Korea Basketball deliberated on the status of their national team and decided with finally they will no longer join the Manila window.
In a statement, the KBA said that the decision they made was in consideration of the safety of the players.
Korea, coached by Jo Sang-hyun, was scheduled to play the host squad Gilas Pilipinas tomorrow, and New Zealand and India in the succeeding days.
The player confirmed positive had been in training with the national team and was among the 10 remaining players, who previously tested negative during the camp that was held in Goyang. He was the 10th Korean player with the virus.
Among those who were named for the trip to Manila were Kim Sunhyung of Seoul, Lee Daesung of Goyang, Heo Ung of Wonju, Yang Hongseok of Busan, Lee Weonseok of Seoul, Yeo JunSeok of Korea University, Doo Kyungmin of Daegu, Byeon Junhyeong of Anyang, An Youngjun of Seoul, Lee Kwanhee of Seoul, Lee Seunghyun of Goyang, and Jang Jaeseok of Ulsan.