Unified Korean hoops team stuns Indonesians 108-40

Unified Korea's Kim Han-byul (top R) watches as the ball hits the hoop in their women's basketball preliminary game between Unified Korea and Indonesia during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 15, 2018. AFP-Yonhap

In a blowout victory over Indonesia to open its Asian Games women's basketball tournament Wednesday, the unified Korean team showed no issues when it comes to on-court communication.

It seems a tad ironic that athletes from South Korea and North Korea would have difficulty understanding each other because the two peoples speak the same language ― except when you consider that they're accustomed to different sets of basketball jargon. South Koreans are familiar with English terms, such as shooting, passing, rebounding and blocks. North Koreans are used to their own words that may sound foreign to South Korean ears.

And to hear South Korean guard Park Hye-jin tell it, trying to learn each other's vocabulary was no different than working on basketball skills. It required a lot of practice, and even some late-night quiz sessions organized by the coaching staff.

Combined Koreas Choi Eunsil takes the ball as Indonesia's Henny Sutjiono attempts to block her throw during their women's basketball at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. AP-Yonhap

"I think they had some difficulty with English words at first, and they'd be tested by the coaches on words like 'screens,'" Park said after Team Korea's 108-40 victory. "They're more used to them by now. During games, they may momentarily forget some words, but we understand a bit of their terms now."

Park scored 11 points and had five assists, helping run the efficient offense that shot 57 percent from the field and 33 percent from downtown.

She said she was impressed with how hard the North Koreans played even with the outcome of the game decided early on, though the team is still not perfect.

Indonesia's Gabriel Sophia is surrounded by combined Koreas defenders during their women's basketball match at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. AP-Yonhap

"We had some problems with defensive rotation and coverage," she said. "We're here for games that count, and it'd be an excuse if we said we're not on the same page. We will continue to bear down and let our results speak for themselves."

There are nine South Koreans and three North Koreans on the roster, though one South Korean, Park Ji-su of the Las Vegas Aces in the Women's National Basketball Association, has yet to join the national team.

Of the three North Koreans, center Ro Suk-yong was particularly dominant against Indonesia, with game highs of 22 points and eight rebounds. She also chipped in five helpers, four steals and two blocks.

Combined Koreas players, right, wave to their supporters after defeating Indonesia in their women's basketball match at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. AP-Yonhap

Ro had been regarded as among the best North Korea had to offer well before the Asian Games. When the two Koreas met in a friendly game in Pyongyang on July 5, Ro scored a game-high 32 points in the South's 81-74 victory. At the 2017 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women's Asia Cup, Ro led everyone in scoring by averaging 20.2 points per game.

She was the only North Korean in the starting lineup in Wednesday's win, and should stay there for a team that otherwise lacks low-post presence.

"Ro Suk-yong is a talented scorer, and she can help get our offense going when things get bogged down on that end," Park said of Ro, who declined to speak to media after the game. "Since we don't have a true center, she can really make her presence felt down low." (Yonhap)