The Korean national men’s basketball team won’t be forfeiting any more of its future games in international competitions.
The Korea Basketball Association, through its chairman Kwon Hyuk-woon, said this in a statement on Friday, adding their absence in a FIBA competition won’t happen again.
The Korean national squad forfeited its four-game assignment in the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers this week at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The KBA has been informed of the international federation’s (FIBA’s) decision to impose disciplinary actions and fines on the Korean federation for not attending the tournament.
The KBA decided to cancel the national team’s trip to Manila after one more player tested positive for COVID-19, just hours before they were to board a plane bound for the Philippines.
The KBA explained that the decision they made was in consideration of the safety of the players.
The player, who was confirmed positive, had been training with the national team, and was among the 10 remaining players, who previously tested negative during the camp that was held in Goyang.
Among those who were replaced from their 14-man pool were COVID-infected players Moon Seonggon, Lee Seonghyun, Heo Hoon, Lee Woosuk, Kim Jongkyu and Ricardo Ratliffe. Another player in Choi Junyong is recovering from a sprained right ankle.
