The South Korean men's basketball team, having finished the group stage with three consecutive wins, will face Jordan in the quarterfinals.
According to Yonhap News on September 14, the team, led by Latvian coach Nikolajs Mazulis, will play against Jordan on September 16 at 10 a.m. at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.
South Korea topped Group A after defeating Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Japan in succession.
On September 10, South Korea triumphed over Saudi Arabia 82-66, followed by a commanding 102-48 victory against Indonesia on September 11, and secured first place in the group with a 100-83 win against Japan on September 13.
In the quarterfinals, South Korea will face Jordan, which finished third in Group B.
This tournament features 12 countries divided into three groups, with the quarterfinal matchups determined by overall performance. South Korea achieved a second-place finish in the group stage, while Saudi Arabia, also in the same group, ended up in eighth place, leading to a matchup against seventh-seeded Jordan.
Although Jordan finished third in Group B behind Iran and Taiwan, they are considered a formidable opponent.
In the FIBA rankings, Jordan is ranked 41st, higher than South Korea's 57th position, and they won a silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. With naturalized players Da'Tucker and Perrin Buford, they are regarded as one of the contenders for the championship.
For South Korea, maintaining the momentum from the group stage is crucial.
Prior to the Asian Games, South Korea struggled in exhibition matches and FIBA World Cup qualifiers, but they have turned things around with three decisive victories in this tournament.
Notably, the win against Japan allowed South Korea to avenge two previous losses in August during away exhibition games, ending the group stage on a positive note.
Key players like Lee Hyun-jung, who has been consistent throughout the group stage, and Lee Jung-hyun, who excelled in the third quarter against Japan, are expected to lead the team.
With Lee Seung-hyun and Jang Jae-seok protecting the paint and players like Yoo Gi-sang contributing from the perimeter, South Korea aims to counter Jordan's height and strength.
Additionally, key forward Choi Jun-yong will join the team for the quarterfinals.
Choi, who did not participate in the group stage due to his pursuit of opportunities in the U.S., is set to take the court starting in the quarterfinals.
However, the recovery status of Yeo Jun-seok, who missed the first two games due to an ankle injury, remains uncertain. Reports indicate that his condition has improved.
In the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, South Korea suffered a disappointing seventh-place finish after losing to China in the quarterfinals.
This time, the team is determined to defeat Jordan and advance past the quarterfinals, aiming for a better outcome than three years ago and a chance to reclaim the Asian Games title for the first time since the 2014 Incheon Games.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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