The Korean men's basketball team achieved a decisive victory over the Philippines in two exhibition games held at home ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Under the guidance of head coach Nikolajs Majuls from Latvia, Korea (FIBA ranking 57) won the second exhibition match against the Philippines (ranked 40) 69-42 at KT Sonicboom Arena in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on September 6.
Following a dominant 81-55 win in the first match on September 4, Korea successfully completed its final preparations for the Asian Games.
Additionally, the Majuls-led team extended its winning streak to three games, including an 85-72 victory over Saudi Arabia in the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers on August 31. Since Majuls took over in December, his record stands at 4 wins and 6 losses.
In the latest game, Korea struggled to score in the early minutes, failing to register points for over three minutes. However, a free throw by Lee Hyun-jung (unaffiliated) sparked their offense. With four three-pointers from Yoo Gi-sang (Changwon LG) in the first quarter, Korea finished the period with a commanding 19-4 lead.
In the second quarter, Yeon Jun-seok (University of Seattle) shone with eight points in the paint. Korea maintained pressure on the Philippines both inside and outside, ending the first half with a 38-14 advantage. Korea continued to dominate in the second half, at one point leading by as much as 37 points for a comprehensive victory.
Yoo Gi-sang led all scorers with 15 points, hitting five three-pointers at a 62.5% success rate. Yeon Jun-seok contributed 14 points, while Lee Hyun-jung recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, along with six assists, two steals, and three blocks, showcasing his all-around performance.
The Philippines, a strong team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, fielded a weakened squad for this match, missing key players including naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
With this victory, Korea improved its all-time record against the Philippines to 30 wins and 17 losses.
Boosted by their home exhibition games, the Majuls-led team will depart for Nagoya, Japan, on September 7, aiming for their fifth Asian Games gold medal, the first since the 2014 Incheon Games.
The men's basketball tournament at the Asian Games features 12 countries divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals. Korea, placed in Group A, will play its first match against Saudi Arabia (ranked 64) on September 10 at 4 PM, followed by games against Indonesia (ranked 92) on September 11 and Japan (ranked 22) on September 13.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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