(Nagoya = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Song-ah = Veteran big man Jang Jae-seok (KCC) of the Korean national basketball team showed off his presence in the Korea-Japan match and contributed greatly to the team's victory in all three group matches of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Jang Jae-seok scored 18 points and 8 rebounds in the final third game of Group A against Japan held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan on the 13th, leading Korea to a 100-83 victory.
In attack, Jeong-Hyeon Lee (Sono), the most valuable player (MVP) in the professional basketball regular league, made a great performance by scoring 25 points, the most for both teams, including 5 3-point shots, while Jae-Seok Jang's dedication could not be left out.
In Korea, where there are no naturalized players, ‘Captain’ Lee Seung-hyun (Hyundai Mobis), born in 1992, and Jang Jae-seok, born in 1991, are mainly guarding the goal. The shoulders of Lee Seung-hyun and Jang Jae-seok are even heavier as Yeo Jun-seok (Seattle University), who should be able to help, will be sidelined due to an injury suffered during the group stage of this tournament.
On this day, Lee Seung-hyun got into foul trouble early on, making it even more difficult for Korea to face Japan, where 211cm naturalized player Alex Kirk held on, but Jang Jae-seok held on in offense and defense, laying the foundation for victory.
In particular, Jang Jae-seok played a big role in helping Korea dominate the third quarter by actively targeting Kirk, who showed signs of low stamina in the second half, and scoring a series of under-the-goal goals.
After the game, coach Nicolais Majuls said, "We had trouble against Kirk in the paint zone and had trouble blocking the shooters, but the players tried to cover it with energy and passion, and we played a good game by finding our rhythm at the end."
The national team's 'ace' Lee Hyeon-joong especially praised Jaeseok, saying, "I am so grateful to Jaeseok. We are lacking in height, but even though he is a veteran, he plays more earnestly than us, so the younger players have to reflect on themselves. He was a great help to us by holding the team's focus well, blocking naturalized players, and even scoring goals."
Jang Jae-seok said, "I was able to cheer up because the young players' earnest desire for the gold medal was conveyed to me while the people were cheering and my family was watching. I thought it would be difficult if we lost today and went to the quarterfinals as second place in the group, so I think it was a very important match in terms of the atmosphere. Since we won, I think there is a chance for the gold medal."
“(August) The crushing defeat against Japan in the friendly match helped me. I had a desire for revenge that I had to win today at all costs,” he said. “I wasn’t in good shape, but I tried to improve and was able to put on a good show in today’s important game.”
Jang Jae-seok then said, "This is the beginning. As Choi Jun-yong is also joining, I will try to create a better atmosphere in the quarterfinals. I think it will be a good gift to the people and young players, and I will work hard."
