Seoul: South Korea advanced to the men's basketball final of the Asian Games on Friday, defeating Iran 77-51 in the semifinals at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, central Japan. The victory guarantees South Korea at least a silver medal, with the gold medal match scheduled against Japan on Sunday at 7:40 p.m.
According to Yonhap News Agency, forward Lee Hyun-jung led South Korea with a game-high 26 points, excelling particularly in the third quarter where he scored 12 points. Lee shot 7-of-13 from behind the arc, showcasing his offensive prowess. South Korea, coached by Nikolajs Mazurs, is now a victory away from claiming its first men's basketball gold medal in 12 years.
Japan, South Korea's upcoming opponent, secured their place in the final by defeating China 97-77 in the other semifinal match. The final will be a rematch of a Group A game from the previous Sunday, where South Korea emerged victorious with a 100-83 win, largely thanks to guard Lee Jung-hyun's 25 points and backup center Jang Jae-seok's 18 points.
South Korea's journey to the final included wins in all three group matches, followed by eliminations of Jordan and Iran. Despite a low-scoring first quarter against Iran, South Korea managed to take a 12-8 lead, relying on their three-point shooting, which included two successful shots by Lee Hyun-jung.
The South Korean team opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run, extending their lead to 23-10, and finished the first half with a 36-24 advantage. Lee Hyun-jung achieved a double-double in the first half alone, with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
In the third quarter, Lee Hyun-jung and Lee Jung-hyun's back-to-back three-pointers widened the lead to 47-31, and Lee Hyun-jung continued to impress with a deep three-pointer, pushing the lead further. South Korea maintained control throughout the final quarter, ultimately securing a dominant victory.
South Korea made 14 three-pointers during the game, compared to Iran's 2-of-23 shooting from downtown. Overall, South Korea shot 25 percent from inside the arc, while Iran struggled with a 25 percent shooting rate overall.