South Korea withdraws from February window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers due to COVID-19 —report

South Korea has reportedly pulled out of the February window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers over COVID-19 concerns.

In a report by Korean news outlet Jumpball  on Tuesday, the Korean Basketball Association (KBA) was said to convene in a meeting this morning where the decision to pull out of the tournament was made.

The report added that one player from the team tested positive for the virus after everyone in the team underwent PCR test on Monday. Everyone else was deemed close contact, forcing the Koreans to withdraw its participation from the window which kicks off on February 24 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Koreans were expected to fly to the Philippines on Tuesday night.

"The Korean men's basketball team, ahead of the 2023 FIBA Men's Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers, conducted a final PCR test before departure on the 21st. Here's the problem. One player who had been tested negative was retested and confirmed on the 22nd," the report said.

"The player who was diagnosed with the virus on the 22nd has been training with the national team, and also participated in a practice match against Korea University on the 21st. Therefore, the Basketball Association decided not to send the national team to the Philippines because there is a risk of infection to the rest of the players."

The Koreans were supposed to face Gilas Pilipinas twice, on the 24th and on the 28th.

Korea's pullout leaves the Philippines with two opponents, India on February 25 and New Zealand on February 27.

—JMB, GMA News