A Japanese defender (right) finds it difficult to guard South Korean 7-foot-3 center Ha Seung-Jin (left) during their game Thursday in the FIBA Asia basketball championship in Tianjin, China. The Koreans dismantled Japan, 95-74.

TIANJIN, China — The stakes in the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship get higher Saturday when Powerade-Team Pilipinas takes on South Korea, a virtual Dream Team for national coach Yeng Guiao.

“They have what it takes to be successful in international competition: size, quickness, outside shooting,” said Guiao, who watched from the sideline as the South Koreans, led by 7-foot-3 former Portland Trail Blazer center Ha Seung-Jin, dismantled Japan Thursday, 95-74.

“Yan ang hinahanap natin sa isang team,” he said. “So I think they will be the bigger problem compared to Japan.”

Though preoccupied with the all-important tiff with the Japanese, Guiao couldn’t shake off what he saw.

“Dati outside threat lang sila, tapos namumulot sa loob. Pero noong dumating yung malaki nila, plus yung No. 11 (Kim Joo-Sung) na marunong din sa loob, naging inside threat na sila, tapos bato na lang sa labas kapag nahirapan sa ilalim,” Guiao said, noting the South Koreans’ seven 3-point shots and whopping 48 points from the paint. “Mas marami pa ngang na-shoot sa tres yung Japan e (10 of 22).”

By contrast, the Philippines, which ran roughshod over Sri Lanka, 115-31, in the tournament’s opener, was less than impressive where it mattered most.

Facing a team that would rather grab a bat and play cricket than shoot free throws the Nationals shot just 57 percent, missing 13 three-pointers.

They also clanged 10 foul shots as against the combined seven missed free throws by South Korea (14 of 18) and Japan (16 of 19) during their game.

Defensively, the Nationals are in for some heavy pounding inside and zone-breaking sniper fire in their 9 p.m. game against the team now coached by Hur Jae, their crack shooter in the ‘90s, and working under the tutelage of the legendary Shin Dong Pa.

The enormity of the task at hand could unsettle even the most focused of bench tacticians.

“Saka na natin isipin yan,” said Guiao. “Sa Japan muna tayo mag-concentrate.” (The RP-Japan game was ongoing at press time)

In other inaugural day games: (Group B) – defending champion Iran outlasted Chinese-Taipei,71-67, and Kuwait stunned Uzbekistan, 69-64; (Group C) – host China blasted India, 121-49, and Qatar whipped Kazakhstan,
77-62; and (Group D) – United Arab Emirates edged Indonesia, 68-63, and Jordan routed Lebanon, 84-67.

The Jordanians’ coasting win affirmed their position as one of the teams to beat, after China, in the FIBA World Championship qualifier.

Before noon Saturday, South Korea picked up its second win in Group A, plastering Sri Lanka, 122-54.

Meanwhile, hotshot James Yap, who attended the Wednesday burial of his mother in-law, former President Corazon C. Aquino, arrived Thursday afternoon and joined his RP teammates in practice that evening.

Yap is married to Mrs. Aquino’s youngest child, TV host/movie actress Kris Aquino.

Absent, however, from the workout was 6-foot-10 center Japeth Aguilar, who, Guiao said, “wasn’t feeling too well.”

Aguilar, who apparently hurt himself after one vicious dunk, had 15 points on 6-of 8-shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds in his debut as a national player.

In time for the match with South Korea are PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios and the PBA board of governors, led by incoming chairman Lito Alvarez, who are expected to fly in this afternoon.