MANILA -- Powerade-RP squad failed to upset the South Korean Team as it absorbed another defeat, 83-80, in the 31st William Jones Cup at the Hsinchuang gym Thursday in Taiwan.

The Nationals had a hard time guarding the South Koreans, who were unstoppable inside the paint and deadly at the perimeter.

The South Koreans, led by Kin Min-soo, zoomed ahead with a 6-0 run at the opening minutes of the first quarter.

Gabe Norwood and Asi Taulava tried to keep up with their faster opponents, but came up short as the quarter ended in favor of the South Koreans, 22-17.

Japeth Aguilar and James Yap gave RP its taste of the lead midway in the second quarter, 26-27. The Korean squad, however, eventually regained the lead to close the half, 38-35.

The RP squad tried to keep the scores close, finding their range beyond the three-point arc in the third canto. The Nationals were down by 4 points by the end of the quarter, 59-55.

Arwind Santos, Willie Miller and Ryan Reyes sparked a rally in the fourth as the RP defenders momentarily checked the South Koreans shooters.

The Koreans eventually found their way around the RP-5’s resistance and posted their fourth win against one loss.

Team Pilipinas, meanwhile, dropped to 1-5.