The South Korean men's basketball team completed a four-game evaluation series, akin to a prelude to the Asia Cup, with a perfect record and sounded the signal for resurgence. The 'overseas duo' of Yoo Joon-seok (23, Seattle University) and Lee Hyun-jung (25, Illawarra), who emerged as key players, anchored the team, while domestic players also contributed evenly to offer hope.
The national team, led by Coach Ahn Jun-ho, secured a commanding victory of 95-78 against Qatar in the second evaluation match held on the 20th at the Jeong Gwan Jang Arena in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. Having already recorded three consecutive wins, including the first match against Qatar (90-71) on the 18th, the team completed the evaluation schedule with a perfect record of four wins.
The most notable performances came from Yoo Joon-seok and Lee Hyun-jung. On this day, Yoo Joon-seok scored 24 points, including four 3-pointers, and grabbed five rebounds. Lee Hyun-jung recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, including three 3-pointers and six free throws, showcasing a performance close to a triple-double. The two players established themselves as the clear 'tandem' of the national team, anchoring the offense throughout every evaluation match.
The first half was not easy. South Korea fell behind 15-24 after allowing 24 points in the first quarter but regrouped in the second quarter, starting their comeback with Yoo Joon-seok's outside shot and Lee Hyun-jung's 3-pointer. After successfully taking the lead 31-30 with a free throw from Yoo Joon-seok, South Korea ended the first half ahead 42-36, thanks to their continued contributions.
The competition remained tense in the second half. At one point in the third quarter, South Korea led 53-42, but suffered a reversal, trailing 58-59 due to Qatar's comeback led by Brendan Goodwin. However, just before the end, Lee Hyun-jung's 3-pointer restored a 66-63 lead as they entered the final quarter.
The momentum fully shifted in the fourth quarter. With 5 minutes and 39 seconds remaining, Yoo Joon-seok executed a 4-point play by drawing a foul on a 3-pointer, and shortly after, Lee Jung-hyun (Sono) hit a 3-pointer. Following that, Yoo Joon-seok's consecutive scores and Lee Jung-hyun's outside shots widened the score gap and secured the victory. In the closing moments, with the help of Yang Joon-seok (LG), Ha Yun-ki (KT) and Yoo Joon-seok executed consecutive dunks, adding a spectacular finale.
Lee Jung-hyun contributed 14 points, while Ha Yun-ki added 13 points and 5 rebounds. The national team struggled against the inside game of Qatar's naturalized player Goodwin, who scored 23 points, but they balanced it out with focused outside shooting and teamwork.
Qatar is grouped with South Korea in Group A of the Asia Cup finals, which will begin on the 5th of next month in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In the 'group of death' along with Australia (FIBA Ranking 7) and Lebanon (29), the opening match against Qatar could serve as a watershed moment that shapes the overall flow of the tournament.
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