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 Nikolajs Mazulis, South Korea (ranked 57th by FIBA) defeated Saudi Arabia (ranked 64th) 82-66 in their Group A opener at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on September 10.
The men's basketball team was the first among all South Korean athletes to compete in an official match at this tournament, continuing their dominance over Saudi Arabia with an undefeated record of 8-0 in their all-time encounters.
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 briefly. Late in the first quarter, free throws from Lee Woo-seok and consecutive points from Yeo Jun-seok helped South Korea finish the quarter ahead 24-17.
In the second quarter, South Korea began to widen the gap, starting with a three-pointer from Yoo Gi-sang. With contributions from Lee Seung-hyun, they ended the first half with a 41-28 lead.
The third quarter saw South Korea's offense explode, with consecutive three-pointers from Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Woo-seok, and Lee Hyun-jung, which 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 advantage.
However, the final quarter was less impressive for South Korea, as they struggled offensively, scoring only 8 points while allowing Saudi Arabia to score 19 points, finishing the game at 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 their first gold medal in 12 years.
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.
Following their victory over 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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