The Korea Basketball Association has made the tough decision to pull out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ Quezon City window which begins on Thursday.
In an emergency meeting held on Tuesday morning, the KBA has decided for the team not to push through in going to the Philippines as another COVID-19 outbreak took place in the team.
In a report by Jumpball, a Korean player tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the team’s flight on Monday evening.
The player even played in Korea’s tuneup game against Korea University in Goyang, which the national team won handily.
To make matters worse, the player did not wear a facemask during the entire game.
The final 12 players listed in Korea’s pool are 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.
It is now up to FIBA to whether declare the games of Korea forfeited or move the games to the third round slated in June.
Korea was supposed to collide with Gilas on the 24th before facing New Zealand on the 25th. After a day break, they were supposed to square off against India before closing the window against Gilas anew.
