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 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 match, celebrating a satisfying first victory. Additionally, they maintained a perfect record against Saudi Arabia, extending their winning streak to eight games.
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. In the latter part of 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. 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. Just before the end of the third quarter, a three-pointer from Lee Woo-seok pushed the lead to 74-44, a 30-point advantage that solidified their control of the game.
However, the final quarter left some room for improvement. South Korea struggled with shooting, scoring only 8 points while allowing Saudi Arabia to score 19 points, 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 the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games and the quarterfinals in the 2023 Hangzhou Games without medaling. This time, they aim for a gold medal after a 12-year gap.
The men's basketball tournament 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.
After defeating Saudi Arabia, South Korea leads Group A and will face Indonesia in their second group match on September 11 at 4 PM at the same venue. They will then play their final group match against host nation Japan on September 13 at 7 PM.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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