South Korea clinched the first men's basketball semifinal seat on Wednesday by beating the Philippines 74-66 at the 16th Asian Games.

Oh Sekeun came off the bench and scored 19 points for South Korea, who had four players in double-digit with Kim Jung Chul 13, Lee Seung Jun 12 and Kim Joo Sung 10.

South Korea, who didn't field their top scorers Lee Seung Jun and forward Cho Sungmin as starters, played a close game in the first 16 minutes. The medal contenders narrowly led the first quarter after making a 6-0 run and were only one point ahead before they finished a 44-36 halftime lead thanks to a 7-2 spurt.

The Korean extended the edge to 11 points twice in the third quarter. But the Philippines, who stunned Qatar in the preliminary round, fought back and cut the deficit to five points, 49-54, before South Korea used a 7-2 run to recontrol the game.

The Philippines made it for 61-67 with 3:40 seconds left in the fourth quarter. But Lee Seung Jun's 3-pointers and a basket put the Korean on safety and the Philippines never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

"We shot really bad behind arc in the first half," said the Philippine coach Jajko Toroman. "Korea scored too many points in the first 20 minutes and then they defended well, controlling their advantage."

South Korea shot 4-for-8 3-pointers to the Philippines' 1-for-9 and outclassed the Philippines with 58 percent to 45 in the first half.

Pauliasi Taulava led the Philippines in shooting with a game- high 23 points, and guard Joseph Evans Casio added 13 and dished out four assists.

"It was a very tough game, South Korea shot really well. We just need to focus and practise hard in the future," Casio said.

South Korea face the winners between Japan, the first place in the Group F, and DPR Korea in the semifinals.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2010)