The South Korean men's basketball team, aiming for its first gold medal in 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, secured a spot in the semifinals by defeating Jordan.
Under the guidance of head coach Nikolajs Mazulis from Latvia, South Korea (ranked 57th by FIBA) triumphed over Jordan (ranked 41st) with a score of 114-80 in the quarterfinals held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on September 16.
This marks South Korea's first semifinal appearance in eight years, following a bronze medal win at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. The team also overcame the disappointment of finishing seventh at the 2023 Hangzhou Games after being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
South Korea dominated the group stage, defeating Saudi Arabia (82-66), Indonesia (102-48), and Japan (100-83), maintaining an undefeated streak in the tournament. The team has showcased impressive offensive power, scoring over 100 points in their last three games.
In the quarterfinal match against Jordan, South Korea took control early, leading 28-8 at the end of the first quarter. At one point in the third quarter, the lead expanded to 40 points, solidifying their victory.
All 12 players on the roster scored during the game, with standout performances from ace Lee Hyun-jung, who recorded 28 points, including six three-pointers, along with nine rebounds and five assists in about 21 minutes of play. Yoo Gi-sang (Changwon LG) contributed 16 points, Lee Jung-hyun (Goyang Sono) added 12 points and six assists, and Byeon Jun-hyung (Anyang Jeonggwanjang) scored 10 points.
The victory is particularly significant as it was achieved with the full roster. Choi Jun-yong (Busan KCC), who joined the team in Japan the day before due to his commitment to the U.S. league, played about 10 minutes, contributing six points, three assists, and two rebounds after being substituted in the second quarter.
Yeo Jun-seok, who missed the second and third group stage games due to a foot injury, also made a comeback, scoring nine points, including an alley-oop dunk.
Having reached the semifinals, the South Korean team will face the winner of the Iran-Bahrain match on September 18 at 4 p.m. at the same venue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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