South Korea beat Chinese Taipei 75-57 in the bronze medal game at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila on Sunday, claiming the third bid from the continent for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Iran and the Philippines had qualified for the World Cup on Saturday by winning their semifinal matches. Iran and the Philippines will play for the FIBA Asia title on Sunday.
FIBA Asia Championship 2013: South Korea takes 3rd, claims 2014 World Cup bid
South Korea ended Chinese Taipei’s stunning run in the bronze game, claiming itself a bid to next summer’s FIBA World Cup in Spain.
Chris McGrath
Korea claimed its second straight FIBA Asia bronze and its 24th medal in 26 appearances in the tournament. The nation will be making its seventh World Cup appearance in Spain next summer. Korea has never medaled at the World level. Korea last qualified for the Worlds in 1998. It last won a game at the World Cup in 1994.
Chinese Taipei could still make the World Cup if it is granted one of the four wild card berths FIBA doles out as the tournament approaches. Historically, however, three of the four bids go to European nations. China -- which Chinese Taipei beat in the quarterfinals -- is ranked No. 11 in the world and may be seen as a stronger option than Taipei, which is ranked No. 42 in the world.
Tournaments to select World Cup contenders from Europe, the Americas and Africa will happen this summer, as well. The total count of teams that have already qualified for the 32-team team is seven: Korea, Iran, the Philippines, host Spain, Olympic champion United States, Australia and New Zealand.
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