Go to the quarter -finals without naturalization players… Who called this team weak?
Among the 16 countries participating, he was inferior to “the only team without naturalized players.” Australia (Australia), who played in Group A and Group A, had six to seven players in the US professional basketball (NBA), and many of the players were naturalized for ‘victory’ in Qatar and Lebanon.
However, the national team believed in the explosive energy of ‘one heart’. Ahn Jun -ho has been struggling to compose a team that can be united with generations since his appointment in 2023. There were also voices of veteran players who had always been selected for the national teams such as Heung and Heo Hoon, and concerned about the young players in their early 20s, but Ahn believed in themselves, and the decision began to take fruit at the FIBA Asia Cup.
The men’s basketball team took Lebanon in Group A Group on the 10th (Korea time) and advanced to the quarter -finals with the second place (2 wins and 1 loss). Korea (53rd in the world) lost to the strong team Australia (7th) in the first leg, but caught the second leg Qatar (87th) and Lebanese (29th) in the third leg.
The Korean men’s basketball was sluggish to sixth in 2022 Jakarta, the previous competition, and has been criticized for being “Korean basketball ruined” in line with the worst (7th place) of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (2023). Ahn Jun -ho, who raised a new anchor, is the sake of honor recovery. The manager of the basketball industry said, “It is a result of the second place in the quarter -finals without naturalization.”
The national team completed the perfect generation of players in the mid -20s, including Lee Hyun -joong (Nagasaki), Yeo Jun -seok (Seattle University), Yoo Sang -sang and Yang Joon -seok (Changwon LG), and Lee Jung -hyun (Goyang Sono). The organic award scored 18.3 points in three games. In addition, an average of 5.3 shots were successful (59.3%success rate), strengthening the face as a shooter. Lee Hyun -joong also played an active part in the airborne with 21 points in three games, 21 points, 7.3 splattering, and 2.2 assistive cycles. The concerns were also washed away from Lee Hyun -joong and Yeo Jun -seok ‘Overseas’. In the third leg of Yeo Jun -suk, most of the players succeeded in three -point shots, and altruistic plays such as Yang Jun -seok (10 Help) were also outstanding. Lee Hyun -joong said, “I believed that 12 players were selected and they would be good at any player.”
It is also positive that young players’ guts have become thick while experiencing ‘big stage’. Australia, who was a defensive center, was embarrassed when he had an outskirts in the first leg, but he prepared for the second and third rounds of “based on practical experience” (Lee Jung -hyun). Ahn was also skilled. He has been preparing for the tournament with a ‘high’ defense and a big fight against the defense under the goal. Ahn said, “It was a burden while playing group leagues.”
South Korea will face the quarter -finals with Guam B on the 12th. In this tournament, the first place in A ~ D (4 teams each) will go straight to the quarter -finals, and the second and third place will play the quarterfinals. Reducing turnovers (mistakes) and increasing free to success are homework.
By Nam Ji -eun, reporter myviollet@hani.co.kr
