[Asian Games] Shock Defeat to Japan Without Key Players... South Korea Men's Basketball Fails to Advance Directly to Quarterfinals

11 Three-Point Shots in the First Half
Likely to Face Thailand and Bahrain on the 2nd of Next Month

The South Korean men's basketball team was caught off guard by Japan and failed to advance directly to the quarterfinals.

On the 30th, South Korea lost 77-83 to Japan in the third match of Group D in the men's basketball group stage held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. With this loss, South Korea, which could have advanced directly to the quarterfinals with a win, was pushed to a quarterfinal qualification playoff.

On the 30th, Ha Yoon-gi is shooting during the men's basketball group stage match between South Korea and Japan in Group D at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held at the Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In the quarterfinal qualification playoff held on the 2nd of next month, South Korea will face the third-place team from Group C. The likely third-place teams in Group C are Thailand or Bahrain.

In this tournament, Japan formed its team without any players who participated in last month's International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup. Additionally, all players who participated in the evaluation match against South Korea in July were excluded, and the team was led by national team coach Corey Gaines. Although South Korea was missing players such as Oh Se-geun (SK) and Choi Jun-yong (KCC) due to injuries, it was widely expected that South Korea would have a high chance of winning against Japan, which essentially fielded a second-string team.

However, South Korea fell behind 0-13 right from the start of the game and allowed 11 three-pointers in the first half alone.

Trailing 37-43 at halftime, South Korea struggled throughout the game, never taking the lead as Japan scored consecutive three-pointers and two-point shots early in the second half, extending the lead to 37-48.

With 3 minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the game, Lee Seung-hyun (KCC) narrowed the gap to 66-71 with free throws, raising hopes for a comeback, but Japan's Saito Takumi responded with a three-pointer on the next defensive play, pushing the lead back to 8 points.

South Korea's Heo Hoon (Sangmu) fought hard, scoring 24 points including six three-pointers, but ultimately suffered defeat after allowing Japan to make 17 three-pointers at critical moments.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.