Beware Belarus

South Korea forward Beon Yeon-ha, center, drives between Australian defenders forward Belinda Snell, left, and guard Jenni Screen during the second quarter of their women’s preliminary basketball game at the Beijing Olympics Wednesday. / AP-Yonhap

By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

South Korea's women had an emphatic start to their Olympic basketball campaign when they edged Brazil in overtime, which, for a moment, seemed to justify their ambitions for the podium.

However, after dropping a heartbreaker to Russia and then enduring a ruthless spanking by mighty Australia, the excitement following the Brazil win is way back in the rearview mirror.

Korea currently shares a 1-2 record with Belarus and Latvia in Group A and braces for a crucial match against Belarus Friday, which may determine its fate for advancing to the knockout stages. The Koreans complete their group phase against Latvia on Sunday.

``We will give everything we got in the last two games," said Korea coach Jung Duk-hwa.

``The players on other teams are bigger than us, but there is nothing we can do about it now," he said. ``We will squeeze out every ounce of our sweat and creativity and secure a berth in the quarterfinals.''

A total of 12 teams, divided into two groups of six, are competing for the eight spots in the quarterfinals. A win against Belarus could prove as enough to secure Korea a top-four finish in Group A, considering that Latvia, which lost 79-57 to Belarus, is considered much lesser of a threat.

Jung is clearly concerned about the size Belarus brings to the paint. Yelena Leuchanka, a 1.96-meter center, emerged as the focal point of the offense, scoring an average of 16.7 points per game in the tournament.

She is supported by crafty forwards Katsiaryna Snytsina and Tatyana Troina, both averaging double digits in scoring, while Anastasiva Verameyenka and Marina Kress add further muscle under the basket.

With center Ha Eun-joo, the 2.02-meter sister of former NBA giant Ha Seung-jin, unavailable due to injury, 1.9-meter forward Kim Kwe-ryong is the tallest player on the Korean squad.

Kim would certainly be taxed under the basket against the bigger and stronger Belarus players, especially with veteran center Jung Sun-min beginning to play like the 34-year-old she is.

Korea's lack of size is expressed evidently in the stat sheets. Jung's side is last among the 12 squads in the tournament with an average of 22.7 rebounds per game, about a half of the 44.3 boards the Australians are averaging, and has yet to register its first blocked shot.

The lack of size was evident in the 90-62 loss to Australia, with the Korean inside players giving up a combined 34 points to Aussie centers Suzy Batkovic and Lauren Jackson.

Korea is certainly a team that lives and dies on the perimeter, and Jung could only hope that shooters like Byeon Yeon-ha, who drilled six 3-pointers on her way to 20 points against Australia, and Choi Yoon-ah, averaging 13.3 points, could stay hot.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr

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