Unified Korea into basketball final
A joint Korean women's basketball team slammed Taiwan 89-66 to reach the Asian Games final on Thursday, helped by Las Vegas razzmatazz and some good, old, northern grit.
Roared on by around 100 fans waving Korean unification flags, North Korean Ro Suk Yong joint top-scored with 17 points in a blow-out victory for the defending champions in Jakarta.
The Koreans advance to face China in this weekend's gold medal game after they outgunned Japan 86-74 in the second semifinal.
Beanpole centre Park Ji-su chipped in with 10 points -- one of six Korean players in double figures -- in her first game since being released by WNBA team the Las Vegas Aces.
As chants of "Uri nun hana da" (we are one) echoed around the arena, the Koreans were sparked by a captain's performance from Lim Yung-hui -- who at 38 is old enough to be the mother of some of her teammates.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Korea forward Kim Han-byul told AFP. "It's definitely historical -- just the fact the North Korean girls are able to play with us," added Kim, who was born Kimberly Roberson to a Korean mother and an American father in Indiana.
"It's a big, big step in the right direction. Hopefully it will propel something in the future for maybe coming together again."
Kim looked every inch the street baller with her bleach-blonde hair and headband, while her northern cousins sported sensible, state-approved cropped cuts and no-nonsense ponytails.
But the hard-working Ro, one of three Pyongyang-based players on the team, had travelling Korean media eating out of her hand after the game.
"When you are united good things happen," said the 25-year-old. "I've never felt such warm support on a basketball court," added Ro.
The two countries marched together at the opening ceremony in Jakarta after forming their first-ever unified Olympic team -- a joint women's ice hockey side -- for February's Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
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