RP vs Korea: D-E-F-E-N-S-E!!!

BUSAN, South Korea – In a heavy three-hour practice Thursday, the Nationals worked out a tough defense that they hope would neutralize South Korea’s sleek offensives and polished on their shooting, which deserted them in their match against defending champion China.

Then off they went to view video tapes of Korea’s games against Japan and Kazakhstan.

Thoughts of the do-or-die meeting with the Koreans in the semifinals of the Asian Games basketball event were like a fever that seems to consume the Nationals 48 hours into the contest. Another heavy workout is scheduled today and probably another session on video viewing and pouring over scouting reports at the hotel room of PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino afterwards.

The two teams clash at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

National coach Jong Uichico had sounded like a broken record as he stressed the need "to stop the Korean transition game and perimeter shooting."

That was after he and his coaching staff had seen Korea’s main weaponry on stark display anew in the host team’s 114-98 shellacking of Kazakhstan Wednesday night that sealed the semifinal duel with the Filipinos.

The Koreans made 14 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc with Moon Kyun Eun firing six of seven to finish with 22 points. Then there were Bang Sun Yoon hitting four of seven and veteran Chun Hee-chul three of six.

In all, the Koreans finished with 57 percent shooting clip on 45 of 79 field goal attempts against a tall and rugged Kazakhstan team, in the process sending a message to the Filipinos that the battle will be decided on the quartercourt.

"We must play our best to beat the Philippines. It’s a very good team," said Korea coach Kim Jin before an assembled foreign media.

A good defense will surely serve the Nationals in good stead and a sustained firepower that would approximate the surpercharged offensives of the Koreans.

"We polish our shooting. Nawala sa game against China," said assistant coach Allan Caidic who had had some experience against the Koreans in four Asiads.

The 39-year-old Caidic blew a chance to bring the Philippines to the final in 1986 Seoul Games when he was given a dubious offensive foul in the closing seconds of the semifinal. In Bangkok four years ago, the Filipinos, then known as the Centennials, failed to contain a fired-up Seo Jang Hong and lost in the quarterfinals.

"I think that team in Bangkok is offense-oriented while this one is defense-oriented. If we defend well, we’ll have a chance," said Caidic.

But the Filipinos must minimize on their turnovers since they would fuel the dreaded running game of the opponents.

"Malakas talaga ang transition game nila. They are quick off errors, quick on missed shots. But if we can limit our errors and shoot well, may pagasa," he said.