Argentina vs Korea Republic
After months of anticipation, the 2019 FIBA World Cup is finally here where the world’s best teams are going to compete for the much-coveted golden Naismith Trophy.
Even if it isn’t as star-studded as it used to be, the playing field remains competitive and basketball fans are in for a huge treat.
In the first day, perennial powerhouse Argentina are set to face a retooled South Korean squad to kick off the festivities in Group B.
The Argentinians are the hot favourites to be on top of the group, as per FIBA 2019 odds. However, the rest are more than capable of giving them a run for their money.
Korea, on the other hand, have always been one of Asia’s best teams. But they’re still trying to get that elusive win in the biggest stage after failing to do so in their previous appearances.
Allow SBOBET to offer you a sneak peek on how these teams will match up on August 31st.
Talking Points
Argentina’s one-two punch
Coach Sergio Hernandez will field in a mix of young and veteran players in Group B of the FIBA World Cup.
With veterans like Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, and Pablo Prigioni gone, the team will have to rely on the duo of Facundo Campazzo and Luis Scola to try and carry the Argentineans to new heights.
Facundo Campazzo plays very well as the team’s playmaker with his craftiness with the ball. The Real Madrid point guard is a two-time EuroLeague champion and was adjudged the Spanish Endesa Liga Finals MVP just recently.
He is a quintessential point guard that any coach would love to have. Campazzo can facilitate the offence very well and he can light up the scoreboard when needed. Look for him to drop a lot of assists to his teammates in China, and expect most of them to be delivered in spectacular fashion – ones that would add to the FIBA World Cup 2019 highlights.
Joining him is the savvy veteran big in Luis Scola, who has been suiting up for the national team for quite some time. At 39 years old, Scola shows no signs of slowing down and he will play in his fifth FIBA World Cup, as he looks for international glory anew.
He will be tasked to be the focal point in the post for Coach Sergio Hernandez. Scola has always been an adept scorer that can finish with both hands and he is no slouch on defence either. Already familiar with playing in China, Scola has played both for the Shanxi Brave Dragons and for the Shanghai Sharks in the CBA.
Korea’s deadly shooting and Ricardo Ratliffe
South Koreans have been long known for their deadly and clutch outside shooting – just ask the Philippines. However, what’s lacking for this team over the past few years is having a reliable, strong inside presence.
To cure their problems in the paint, the Koreans went out to get international journeyman Ricardo Ratliffe. Standing at 6’9’’ and 245 pounds, Ratliffe is a proven double-double machine that can overwhelm his opponents in the interior.
The Hampton, Virginia native is already familiar with the Asian scene as has had stints playing in the Korean Basketball League and in the Philippine Basketball Association. He will be tasked to anchor the defence of the Koreans with his length and athleticism.
Manning the point guard position is Heo Hoon, who has emerged as one of the up-and-coming stars in the Korean Basketball League. Heo is the son of former national team coach Hur Jae and he first saw action at the seniors’ pool back in 2016.
At just 24 years old, Heo Hoon plays like a veteran already. He operates well in the perimeter and uses his speed very well to keep up with the team’s vaunted motion offence. He will blend in well with the likes of Kim Sunhyung, Lee Daesung, and Park Chanhee – all who have played in Korea’s last foray into the World Cup. The youngster believes that playing alongside those veterans can improve his game even further.
“Competition is indispensable in the national team. This time we will all play against very strong opponents like Russia, Argentina, and Nigeria. I see this as an opportunity to try and push our limits,” said Heo Hoon.
History
Argentina have been a staple in the FIBA World Cup, making 13 total appearances. They were the inaugural gold medalists back in 1950 and they won the silver medal back in 2002 – when Luis Scola made his debut for the national team.
Korea, on the other hand, have made seven total appearances, but they never won any medals.
Betting Tip
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Argentina vs Korea Republic | Argentina Asian Handicap -20.50 @1.99 |
| August 31, 20:30 (GMT+8) |
The FIBA Americas powerhouse is expected to win in this game against Korea, at least in double digits. With the team being loaded on all fronts, expect Coach Sergio Hernandez to pull away with an easy win on this one.
The Korean’s only hope to keep up in this game is when they can make a lot of their three-point attempts. But even if they make a lot of them, it’s hard to imagine anyone from their roster stopping the pick-and-roll combination of Luis Scola and Facundo Campazzo.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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