Just two games away from gold, Korea to face Iran in Friday’s semifinal
Few fans expected South Korea’s men’s basketball team to have a real shot at gold at the 2026 Asian Games.
Four games and four wins later, expectations are beginning to change.
Wednesday's victory came as a surprise. Jordan, ranked 41st in the world — 16 places above Korea — had reached the final at the previous Asian Games. Yet Korea took control from the opening tip and never looked back.
Star forward Lee Hyun-jung led the way with 28 points in under 21 minutes, hitting six 3-pointers while adding nine rebounds and five assists. Yu Ki-sang scored 16 points, and Lee Jung-hyun chipped in 12 points and six assists.
All 12 players also got on the scoresheet as the team recorded 36 assists and outrebounded Jordan 44-29.
The win put Korea in the Asian Games semifinals for the first time in eight years — and just two victories away from its first gold medal since 2014.
Korea has slipped behind Asia’s leading basketball nations over the past decade. After winning gold on home soil at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, it took bronze at Jakarta-Palembang in 2018. Five years later in Hangzhou, Korea bowed out in the quarterfinals and finished seventh — its worst-ever result.
The team arrived in Japan overshadowed by traditional contenders China, Japan and Iran. Ranked 57th in the world, Korea also entered the tournament with several challenges, including injuries and late arrivals. In particular, Choi Jun-yong’s late arrival meant Mazurs did not have his full squad available during the group stage.
To many’s surprise, none of those concerns spilled onto the court.
Korea swept Group A with wins over Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and host Japan. The 100-83 victory over Japan offered the first real sign that Korea could challenge the tournament favorites, combining aggressive defense with quick ball movement and sharp 3-point shooting.
The quarterfinal against Jordan extended that impression. Korea dominated the boards, used passing to create open looks and repeatedly scored in transition. It was the team’s third straight game with at least 100 points.
Mazurs also called on his full squad for the first time in the tournament, with Yeo Jun-seok returning from injury and Choi joining the team for the quarterfinal. Yeo, who had been sidelined with a foot injury sustained in the opening game, announced his return with an alley-oop dunk and finished with nine points. Choi added six points in just over 10 minutes.
Korea will face Iran in Friday’s semifinal after the West Asian team beat Bahrain 79-74.
The game will be Korea’s toughest test. Iran is ranked 28th and has won the teams’ past six meetings. Korea has not beaten Iran since the 2014 Asian Games final.
junheee@heraldcorp.com
