Overseas ‘young blood’ Lee Hyun -joong (Illa Wara) and Yeo Jun -seok (Seattle University) became the leading vanguard of the second consecutive victory in Japan. The new harmonious players also raised their teams. Ahn Joon -ho’s ‘Huh Huh Room’ leadership also tied the team.
The Korean men’s basketball team won 84-69 in Japan in the second leg of the 2025 Men’s Basketball National Team Evaluation at the Hana Bank invitation at the Anyang Jeonggwanjang Arena, Gyeonggi-do on the 13th. In the 60th anniversary of the Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, Korea won two consecutive wins after the first leg (91-77) on the 11th.
Japan is the 21st place in Asia, 21st in the International Basketball Federation. Athletes who have entered the US professional basketball (NBA) such as Yuki Kawamura (Chicago) and Hachimura Louis (Lakers) have been missing, but they are threatening teams. Korea (53rd) faced Japan’s organizational power, and Lee Hyun -joong (24) and Yeo Jun -seok (23), who developed their international competitiveness early on, exuded their capabilities.
Korea’s center Josh Hawinson was not pushed by the Japanese center Josh Hokinson, and players were devoted to the division of the splattering category, which had been reproached by Ahn in the first leg.
In particular, Lee Hyun -joong (19 points and 12 splatters), who played in the Australian league through the US university stage, showed their ability in the outskirts, breakthroughs, and passes, and Yeo Jun -seok led the atmosphere with a scoring power (15 points and 9 points). More than 60 million won spectators also applauded the national team.
Korea, which was ahead of the first half of the first half, beat the opponent’s flag with three stores such as Ryu Ki-sang (LG) and Kim Jong-kyu (Jeong Kwan-jang) in the third quarter, and the defense of players such as Lee Woo-suk (Hyundai Mobis) did not miss the victory. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the gap was widened to the 30-point (74-44), which was virtually won.
Korea, which is ahead of the International Basketball Federation Asia Cup (August 5-17) in Saudi Arabia, will hold a match against Qatar on the 18th and 20th. Squads are high due to Japan’s winning streak.
After the game, Ahn Jun -ho said, “I told the players to play like a hungry wolf corps.” “We are in the Joe of Death in the Asian Cup.” Is it really going to die in the group of death, or whether it would survive and be a legend. ” It seems clear that the manager’s words stimulated the players’ struggle.
Korea 84 (25-20 25-14 20-10 14-25) 69 Japan
Kim Chang -geum, senior reporter kimck@hani.co.kr