The South Korean men's basketball team defeated Indonesia by 54 points, marking their second consecutive victory and securing the top spot in Group A.
Under the guidance of head coach Nikolai Mazulus, South Korea (ranked 57th by FIBA) triumphed over Indonesia (ranked 92nd) with a score of 102-48 in their second group stage match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.
Similar to their previous game against Saudi Arabia, South Korea took control early in the first quarter. They intensified their offensive efforts at the start of the second half, solidifying their lead.
After defeating Saudi Arabia 82-66 the day before, the South Korean team has now recorded two straight wins, placing them ahead of Japan (with one win) in Group A.
Lee Hyun-jung led the offense with a double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Yoo Gi-sang contributed 21 points, including seven three-pointers. Lee Woo-seok also added 14 points off the bench.
Notably, Yoo Gi-sang made four three-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping South Korea dominate Indonesia 32-7 in that final period.
With two consecutive wins, South Korea is one step closer to securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Depending on the outcome of the match between Japan and Saudi Arabia later in the day, South Korea could confirm at least a second-place finish in the group and advance to the quarterfinals.
Coach Mazulus stated ahead of the upcoming match against Japan on the 13th, "No matter who we face, every game starts from zero. Both our roster and Japan's have changed significantly since our last friendly match." He acknowledged the rivalry but emphasized the need for his team to focus on their own game, adding, "I will prepare based on what I observe in Japan's game today."
After the game, Yoo Gi-sang reflected, "We all agreed with the coach's assessment that the struggles in the fourth quarter were more about mental strength than physical stamina. We committed to finishing strong and focused on our basic plays, which allowed us to maintain a good performance without worrying too much about the score difference."
South Korea will face Japan in their final group stage match on the 13th.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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