South Korea overcome Clarkson's Philippines for semi-final against Iran
Defending champions South Korea overcame NBA star Jordan Clarkson's Philippines in a hard-fought Asian Games basketball match in Jakarta yesterday.
American-born Ricardo Preston Ratliffe scored 30 points for South Korea as they won the quarter-final encounter 91-82 to guarantee at least a bronze.
Victory meant the South Koreans kept up their supremacy over the Philippines, who last beat the Asian giants in the 1962 edition.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Clarkson - who joined his national side late after the NBA released him in a last-minute U-turn - scored 25 points to keep the Philippines fighting, but South Korea took the game away in the final quarter.
Ratliffe told reporters South Korea had executed their game plan well despite Clarkson's best efforts.
"I think he (Clarkson) did a great job especially in the first half. He did what he does best. He also came strong in the second half," Ratliffe said of his former teammate from their University of Missouri days.
However, Ratliffe sympathised with the Philippines who put a team together for the Asian Games at the last minute after 10 of their players were suspended in an on-court brawl during a World Cup qualifier.
"I think it has do a lot with the chemistry, they are a new team. They just got together a week before the Games, so I think they did a great job," said Ratliffe.
South Korea will play their semi-final on Thursday against Iran, who beat Japan 93-67.
The Japanese Olympic Committee revoked four players' accreditation after they were found to have spent the night with women in a Jakarta hotel.
The remaining eight members of the squad had pulled off an emotional win over Hong Kong to reach the quarter-finals last Wednesday but found Iran a bridge too far.
Unable to train five-on-five in the lead-up to yesterday's game, or frequently rotate players in and out of the match-up, eventually took its toll.
"Always, if you have four less players then it is tough, to play with only eight players," said Japan coach Herman Mandole.
"Those four players made a big mistake and I accept the rules.
"That is not an excuse to not compete and not play tough." - AFP, REUTERS
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now