SOUTH Korea regained the men’s basketball gold in the Asian Games, turning back host Japan, 67-57, in Sunday night’s finale that broke the hearts of a capacity home crowd at the Aichi International Arena.
Hotshot forward Lee Hyunjung stood at the forefront of the South Korean’s assault, scoring 18 of his game-high 27 points through three quarters, when the no. 2 seeded team finally made a separation from the host country after a tight first half.
The South Koreans turned the game around by outscoring Akatsuki Japan, 27-19, in the third period for a 55-47 lead with a full 10 minutes left to play.
The title was the first for South Korea since winning it all at home in 2014 in Incheon.
It was the fifth crown overall for the East Asian nation, tying it with the Philippines - the 2022 champion in Hangzhou - but now ranked second behind China in the all-time standings as it had more silver with six to the Philippines' two.
The South Koreans, who swept Gilas Pilipinas in their two-game friendlies in Suwon before heading to the Aichi Prefecture, did it behind a six-game romp of the meet that ushered this year's Asiad, including a sweep of Group A where they earlier beat Akatsuki Japan, 100-83.
They handily disposed Jordan in the quarterfinals, 114-80, and then routed Iran in the semifinals, 77-51, to reach the gold medal play for the first time in 12 years.
Hyunjung, the B. League Finals MVP last season for reigning champion Nagasaki Velca, capped his stellar plays by grabbing 18 rebounds and dishing off three assists.
He's expected to focus next on a possible NBA career after being signed to a non-guaranteed, Exhibit 10 agreement with the Portland Trailblazers. The 25-year-old, 6-foot-7 forward previously played for the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Summer League, averaging 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Japan shot a poor 30 percent from the field (22-of-73) as Ren Kanechika showed the way for the team with 13 points, while Atsuya Ogawa added 12.
It was the host team's first shot at the gold medal game since a runner up finish behind the Philippines in the 1962 Jakarta Asiad, and its first podium finish after bagging the bronze in in Incheon in 2014.
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