Lee Hyun-jung (25, Illawarra) has once again proven his ace status.
The men's basketball team, led by coach Ahn Jun-ho, won 84-69 against Japan in the second evaluation match in preparation for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on the 13th at 2:30 p.m. at Anyang Gymnasium.
With this, Korea has defeated Japan yet again following the previous first match, celebrating a two-game winning streak. In the first match held on the 11th, the team secured a 91-77 victory thanks to the performances of overseas forwards Lee Hyun-jung and Yeo Jun-seok. In the second match, although they showcased an overwhelming performance up until the third quarter, they had to settle for a 15-point margin due to a slightly disappointing concentration in the fourth quarter.
On this day, Korea's starting five consisted of Lee Hyun-jung, Ahn Young-jun, Lee Jung-hyun, Yeo Jun-seok, and Lee Seung-hyun, just like in the first match. In contrast, Japan made some changes. Kaisei Taives, Ren Kanechika, Daichi Nakamura, Josh Hawkinson, and Yuto Kawashima were the first to step on the court. Compared to the first match, Yudai Nishida and Akira Jacobs had their positions switched.
Korea led the game consistently throughout. From the beginning, they troubled Japan's defense with Lee Hyun-jung's outside shots and Yeo Jun-seok's drives, and Lee Jung-hyun and Kang Sang-jae also contributed to the scoring, wrapping up the third quarter at 76-44. In the final quarter, they allowed some comebacks by using several players, but it was an overwhelming victory.
Notably, Lee Hyun-jung excelled with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists, including 5 three-pointers, despite playing only 22 minutes and 18 seconds. Tom Hovasse, the head coach of Japan, selected Lee Hyun-jung as his most impressive player, calling him "No.1."
After the game, Lee Hyun-jung told reporters, "All the team members focused on the rebound area we've emphasized and did well. Thanks to that, the game went smoothly, and we won. So this victory is even more meaningful than the first match." He added, "I’m so excited. Even on a rest day, so many people came out, which made us players even more enthusiastic about playing basketball."
From the start, Lee Hyun-jung poured everything into the game. When asked if he seemed determined, he responded, "I always think that I must give my best when I play. I was just doing my best in that regard. Of course, the fact that we were up against Japan played a role, but more than that, I wanted to show my best."
The topic of naturalized players also came up. Currently, unlike Japan, Korea has no naturalized players or mixed-race players. Lee Hyun-jung stated, "That's not something we can control. Of course, we miss players like (Ra) Gun-ah. However, rather than complaining as players, we have to do our best according to the current situation."
What is the biggest achievement gained from this two-game victory? Lee Hyun-jung mentioned, "I feel that the entire team has become more solid. The trust among the players has increased. Yeo Jun-seok and I joined late due to personal schedules. Despite that, the other 13 players and coaches created an environment in which we could comfortably play basketball. I think it's because they believed in us that we were able to meet their expectations."
When asked if he could be regarded as a representative player of Korean basketball, Lee Hyun-jung replied, "Well, since I'm a national representative, I think so. Although I became the MVP in two consecutive games, I could not have done that without the sacrifices of the other players. So, I want to express my gratitude to all the players."
Now, a two-game series against Qatar is waiting. Lee Hyun-jung remarked, "They play a different style of basketball. I will analyze well and rest well. While it would be nice to win the upcoming Qatar match, I want to play in a way that further addresses areas for improvement and helps us solidify our character. I hope all 15 players can finish the games without injuries."
He pointed out the need to improve on monotonous offense and defensive concentration. Lee Hyun-jung said, "There is indeed a bit of monotony in our offense. While we can finish in one-on-one situations, we can't always be in good condition in every game. We need to supplement that when things don't go well. We did well in rebounding today, but we could have secured a few more in the first half. However, we lost focus in the last 2-3 seconds and allowed one score after another, resulting in a 15-point game. There were many such aspects."
How has Lee Hyun-jung changed compared to the national team match last November? He stated, "I trained really hard every day. I faced players who possess better physical attributes than I do in matches. The competition in Australia is much fiercer. It's a league where the weak cannot compete. After playing for two years, I've gained a lot of know-how, and I'm trying to spread that good influence within the national team." He added, "Living alone has also made me mature mentally. Training with Korean players has helped build more trust. Working together while believing in each other has given me a sense of stability, allowing me to play comfortably."
Lee Hyun-jung showed his passion by helping teammates up after they fell and sprinting to defend. He said, "I just want to win. I believe that as a professional player, I should help my teammates while playing until the end. Resting should be done outside. Still, if I'm tired, I sometimes stop for a moment. In that regard, I believe that showing more energy will encourage the bench players to do the same."
[OSEN]