South Korea faces forfeiture after February window withdrawal — report

The South Korean men's basketball team is reportedly facing forfeiture after its decision to withdraw from the February window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers due to COVID-19.

A story published by Korean website Chosun said the squad has disbanded on Tuesday, February 22, and as a result, will be "automatically declared forfeited (four losses) due to non-attendance."

The Koreans, who rank no. 30 in the world, were supposed to leave for the Philippines on Tuesday night but decided to pull the plug after one player tested positive for the virus in the morning.

The positive individual was said to be active in all the team's training sessions which forced the Korean Basketball Association (KBA) to pull out of the tournament to avoid possible future infections.

Korea was supposed to open its campaign against the Philippines on February 24 before facing New Zealand and India on the 25th and 27th, respectively. It would have been squaring off with Gilas Pilipinas anew on February 28.

Facing a possible forfeiture, South Korea could fall to 0-4 in Group A and will have to face tall tasks in other rounds in order to qualify to the world conclave, which will also be hosted by the Philippines next year.

South Korea will still face New Zealand and India in June and July. Only the top three teams in each group will make it to the second round of the qualifiers.

FIBA, however, has yet to release a statement regarding Korea's withdrawal and its consequences. — LA, GMA News