Korea draw positives from experience at Spain 2014

SEOUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup/FIBA Asia Championship) - Sixteen long years separate the two FIBA Basketball World Cups that Kim Joo Sung has played in for Korea.

A teenager when he competed at the 1998 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Greece, Kim returned to the big stage last year as a 35-year-old when the tournament was held in Spain.

Unlike his first World Cup, when he made three brief appearances, the 2.05m center saw a lot more action in Gran Canaria, where Korea went up against Slovenia, Lithuania, Angola, Mexico and Australia.

He made plays on offense, and on defense.

Each tournament was special for Kim because he had a chance to wear the Korea jersey on the big basketball stage.

"It is a great honour and certainly something to be proud of," he said to FIBA.com. 

"It is representing my country. 

"This also means I am a diplomatic delegate (representative) of Korea to another country. 

"Therefore, my behavior and every single word I say will reflect on my country. So, representing my country is such a tremendous and honorable job for me."

From a competitive standpoint, Kim and his teammates rediscovered in Spain how good the teams are in other parts of the world.

"I believe an international tournament is a good chance for players to improve their skills and performance," Kim said. 

"In particular, I and my teammates in the national side were able to see how strong and good they (world-class players) are through the World Cup in Spain last year. 

"We could learn not only individual skills, but also about team work."

One of the aims for all of the teams in Asia is to close the gap on the rest of the world.

To achieve this, there is no substitute for going up against strong teams.

Korea did face some very good opponents in Group D.

Lithuania made it to the Semi-Finals and Slovenia reached the Quarter-Finals while talented sides from Australia and Mexico advanced to the Round of 16 but lost.

Kim did make his presence felt on the interior against all of the teams, including the Lithuanians.

"Even though the physical part, particularly height, is something out of our control," Kim said, "I was able to gain confidence after the national team experience such as the World Cup, scrimmages and friendly games with other national teams.

"Also, I realized that I need to improve and develop my basketball skills. 

"In this sense, it is necessary to have international games with other nations and also with international players."

For Kim and the other Korea players, there have been highs and lows the past couple of years.

The team did experience the elation of qualifying for the World Cup, and it also had success at the Asian Games that were held in Korea.

"Of course, when our team won a gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, I was proud of my teammates and myself," he said. 

"However, the moment of winning the ticket for the World Cup at the FIBA Asia Championship in the Philippines was the proudest and the most memorable because as a Korean player, we had not had many opportunities to compete with world class players in the past. 

"I was happy that young players would have a chance to play with top players in the World Cup."

Now, the attention has shifted to China, which is where the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship is to be staged.

Victory at the event would clinch a spot in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games for the Koreans.

"It is not going to be easy considering there is only one ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Games in the FIBA Asia Championship," Kim said. 

"However, as I saw the possibility and our potential at the 2014 Asian Games, I believe nothing is impossible unless we lose hope and passion for the Olympics."

FIBA