The South Korean men's basketball team, aiming to reclaim the Asian Games title after 12 years, secured a decisive victory in their opening match, marking the first win for the Korean delegation.
Under the guidance of head coach Nikolai Mazul, South Korea (ranked 57th by FIBA) defeated Saudi Arabia (ranked 64th) 82-66 in the first match of Group A at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya on September 10.
The men's basketball team was the first among all South Korean athletes to compete in an official event, celebrating a satisfying first win. Additionally, they maintained a perfect record against Saudi Arabia, extending their all-time head-to-head record to 8-0.
Lee Hyun-jung led the charge with 23 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Lee Woo-seok contributed 18 points off the bench, while veteran Lee Seung-hyun added 13 points and 6 rebounds.
South Korea took an early lead with consecutive scores from Yeo Jun-seok, Lee Seung-hyun, and Byeon Jun-hyung. However, they allowed Saudi Arabia to tie the game at 17-17 for a brief moment. Late in the first quarter, free throws from Lee Woo-seok and consecutive scores from Yeo Jun-seok helped South Korea finish the quarter ahead 24-17.
In the second quarter, South Korea began to pull away. With a three-pointer from Yoo Gi-sang and additional points from Lee Seung-hyun, they ended the first half with a 41-28 lead, holding a 13-point advantage.
The third quarter saw South Korea's offense explode. Three-pointers from Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Woo-seok, and Lee Hyun-jung stifled Saudi Arabia's comeback efforts. By the end of the third quarter, a three-pointer from Lee Woo-seok pushed the lead to 74-44, a 30-point margin that solidified their control of the game.
However, the final quarter left some room for improvement. South Korea struggled offensively, scoring only 8 points while allowing Saudi Arabia to score 19, failing to maintain their earlier 30-point lead. The game concluded with South Korea winning 82-66.
Since winning the championship at the 2014 Incheon Games, South Korean basketball has reached the semifinals in 2018 in Jakarta-Palembang and the quarterfinals in 2023 in Hangzhou, but they are now aiming for a gold medal after a 12-year gap.
The men's basketball tournament features 12 countries divided into three groups, with the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
After defeating Saudi Arabia, South Korea will face Indonesia in their second group match on September 11 at 4 PM at the same venue. They will then play the host nation, Japan, in their final group match on September 13 at 7 PM.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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