KoreA’s hoopsters were in top gear as their bullet-passes invaded Indian territory during their 102-46 decimation of hosts India in the opener of the 23rd FIBA Asian championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday. Chest-high passes — they rarely needed the over-head as they were a good one-foot taller by average — set up the Korean ring-play, as the defending champions shot at a very high percentage and their precision showed the Indians in even poorer light as the latter fumbled with their own shooting.

Down 27-7 in the first quarter, India compounded their misery as skipper Geethu Anna Jose ran into foul trouble, picking up four penalties and being forced to fret on the bench with a fourth of the match left. But the 20-point difference had ballooned to 50 by the end of the third period (33-84) as Korean forward Beon Yeon Ha (26) and centre Jung Sunmin (20 and 14 in rebounds) had a free run in the face of a collapsed Indian defence. India rely heavily on outside shooters Prashanti Singh and Shiba Maggon, who shot 1/7 and 0/5 on the day, and nothing they did could revive their game.

The introduction of Pratima Singh offered the Indians a rotation option for their next game against Chinese Taipei after key point guard P Anitha was injured, but it couldn’t undo the humiliation of a 50-point drubbing.

Looking ahead

Post this massive defeat, it will be difficult to maintain their belief that they belong to this top-tier Level 1 field as the tournament progresses, but India are keen to not let this confidence-sapper hamper their future play.

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