Two more players of the Korean men’s basketball team tested positive for COVID-19, bringing to four the number of cagers who won’t be allowed to leave for Manila and play in the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers’ February window in a week’s time.
The infectons have left the Koreans with a depleted lineup, without newly infected players Ra Gun-Ah and Kim Jong Kyu, who will both undergo quarantine.
The 6’8” Ra, also known as American cager Ricardo Ratliffe, and his backup Kim, tested positive for COVID-19 after more RT-PCR tests were done on the 24-member national pool before they went to their training bubble in Goyang.
Ratliffe plays for the Jeonju KCC Egis in the KBL, while the 6’2” Kim is part of the Wonju DB Promy.
Because of this, the Korean Basketball Association has withheld its announcement of its final roster, according to online reports coming from Korea.
With Ra and Kim not available, officials are looking forward to the addition of Korean Basketball League standouts Lee Won Seok and Ha Yung to reinforce their national squad.
The KBL is experiencing a spike in COVID-19, with 11 players already testing positive in the past days.
Earlier, Kim Sun-hyung and Yang HongSeok, two of the most experienced players of the South Korean national team, were among the 11 players who were quarantined back in Seoul due to COVID infection.
The 6’2” Kim and the 6’6” Yang were supposed to spearhead the Koreans against the Philippines, India and New Zealand in the FIBA tourney.
The Philippines and Korea had two unforgettable games recently, both of which the Filipinos won—81-78 at the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Bahrain, and 82-77 in Pampanga last year.
Kim plays for Seoul SK Knights while Yang is part of the Suwon KT Sonicboom in the KBL.
Gilas will meet South Korea on February 24, before taking on India on the 25th, New Zealand on the 27th and Korea again on the 28th.