(Nagoya = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Song-ah = The men's basketball team, which achieved three consecutive wins in the group stage of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, competes with Jordan to advance to the semifinals.
The men's basketball team led by coach Nikolais Majuls (Latvia) will clash with Jordan in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan at 10 a.m. on the 16th.
Majulsho won first place in Group A with three consecutive wins by defeating Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Japan in the group stage, and Jordan, a difficult enemy ranked third in Group B (1 win, 2 losses), was selected as their quarterfinal opponent.
In this tournament, 12 countries are divided into three groups and the overall ranking is determined based on their performance in the group stage. The 1st and 2nd place teams will face one of the 7th and 8th place teams, and the 3rd and 4th place teams will face the 5th and 6th place teams in the quarterfinals through a draw. However, teams that were in the same group in the group stage will not meet in the quarterfinals.
Korea finished the group stage in second place overall, following China, which won all three games in Group C, and had to meet one of the 7th and 8th place teams. Saudi Arabia, which was also in Group A, placed 8th in the group stage, and a match with Jordan in 7th place was achieved.
Jordan only ranked 3rd in Group B following Iran and Chinese Taipei in the group stage, but its International Basketball Federation (FIBA) ranking is 41st, higher than Korea's (57th), and it is a formidable opponent who won a silver medal after the Philippines at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Naturalized players Da Tucker and Perrin Buford are also considered candidates to win this tournament.
However, the momentum of the Taegeuk Warriors rose sufficiently.
Majulsho, who had raised concerns due to disappointing performances in warm-up matches and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup qualifiers ahead of the Asian Games, has created an atmosphere of rebound with consecutive wins entering this tournament.
On the 10th, the Korean team won the first game against Saudi Arabia, the first game, by 82-66, and in the second game on the 11th, they defeated Indonesia 102-48.
Next, they won 100-83 in the match between Korea and Japan on the 13th, which was the match for first place in the group, and finished the group stage with flying colors, shaking off the disappointment of being completely defeated in two away evaluation games against Japan in August.
The road to regaining the top spot 12 years after the 2014 Incheon Games begins now.
Korea, which was defeated by China in the quarterfinals at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and ended up in 7th place, its lowest ranking ever, will be able to secure a better performance than three years ago and accelerate its medal challenge if it defeats Jordan and advances to the quarterfinals.
Lee Hyun-joong, who played the role of 'ace' with consistent performance in the group stage, and Lee Jung-hyun, the Korean Professional Basketball Player of the Year (MVP), who dominated the third quarter against Japan and improved his scoring sense, are expected to take the lead once again.
It would be icing on the cake if veterans Lee Seung-hyun and Jang Jae-seok can reliably protect the bottom of the goal and outside guns like Yoo Yu-sang are added.
In particular, it is encouraging that key forward Choi Jun-yong, who was included in the Asian Games entry list but did not play in the group stage to challenge the American stage, is scheduled to play in the quarterfinals.
The level of recovery of Yeo Jun-seok, who injured his foot in the first game of the group stage and missed the second and third games, is considered a variable. Yeo Jun-seok's condition is said to have improved.
