Kim Dong-Kwang named coach of South Korean national team for FIBA Asia 2015

Today, it was announced that the next coach to handle South Korea’s national basketball team will be Kim Dong-Kwang. Kwang will take over the national team from Yoo Jae-Hak who stepped down and due to the conflicting KBL 2015-2016 season schedule versus the FIBA Asia Olympic qualifier for Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

At age 62, Kwang is admitted that he could not keep himself away from coaching even if he tried to. “I feel a sense of duty. Passion is not just limited to young people. I have spent of my life coaching basketball and this is not a difficult change to grasp.”

Prior to being named head coach of the national team, Kwang was working as a commentator for MBC Sports that covers the KBL games. Kwang coached the Samsung Thunder from 2013-2014 before stepping down and handing the team to his protégé, Lee Sang-Min.

“Continuity from last year’s Incheon Asian Games is the key,” proclaimed Kwang as he pointed out that familiarity of the players alongside its composition of veterans is the advantage heading into the Olympic qualifying tournament. “Two months is an ample time for the team to familiarize itself and be hopeful for the best results.”

In the FIBA Asia draw, South Korea was drawn in Group C alongside East-Asian rivals, China, Jordan and Singapore.

image courtesy of FIBA

For the second straight time, Korea is grouped with China and will test the host early. In the 2013 FIBA Asia hosted in Manila, Korea was also grouped with China.

The 2015 FIBA Asia Olympic Tournament will be held in Changsha China starting September 23 and the finals scheduled in October 3.

South Korea’s national players will assemble for training camp in July 20. A couple of scrimmages against KBL teams is being lined up to test the squad, leading to the 2015 Jones Cup in Taiwan where Korea will participate as a preparation tournament and to test their Asian rivals early.

image courtesy of nocutnews.kr

2015 FIBA U19: Korea unable to stop Serbian surge

In Korea’s second game, they were able to keep pace with Serbia’s firepower, trailing by only 2 points as the 1^st quarter ended 24-22.

But the deep Serbian squad pulled away in the middle of the 2^nd quarter as they won the quarter 30-18.

Korea would run and gun as one last straw to make a comeback, trying to match Serbia’s firepower with their own fast paced offense, result was a 31-26 swing but Korea still trailed at the end of the 3^rd quarter.

4^th quarter saw the Serbia cost for the win, 113-83. Jeon Hyun-Woo lead Korea with 31 points.

The first quarter was similar to Korea’s previous game against Greece where Korea kept the fight close in the first quarter, only to succumb against the opposition’s depth.

Korea’s next opponent will be the Dominican Republic.