(Asiad) 3x3 hoops champions draw inspiration from 5x5 gold medalists
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- A team of collegiate players, with an average age of 21.7, took down a giant Qatari team for South Korea's first Asian Games gold medal in men's 3x3 basketball Friday night -- five days after the country's 5x5 men's team had reached the top of the podium.
South Korea defeated Qatar 19-10 in the final at Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue in Nagoya, central Japan, with Yonsei University teammates Lee Ju-yeong and Kim Seung-woo joined by Lee Dong-geun of Korea University and Ku Min-gyo of Sungkyunkwan University.
Lee Ju-yeong, Ku Min-gyo, Kim Seung-woo and Lee Dong-geun of South Korea (L to R) pose with their gold medals won in the men's 3x3 basketball at the Asian Games at Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Yonhap)
The South Korean team gave 7.5 centimeters in average height on Qatar -- no South Korean is taller than 200 centimeters but three Qatari players were over 200 cm -- but still overcame that size discrepancy for a relatively easy win.
"As the match progressed, I could see that Qatari players were getting tired, but we still had a lot left in our tank," Kim said. "We all gained a ton of confidence when we saw each other get right back up whenever we hit the deck."
The Asiad here has been a memorable competition for South Korean basketball. The men's team beat Japan for South Korea's first gold in 12 years, and the women's team took down the two-time defending champion China in the semifinals earlier Friday.
"As I watched our 5x5 players battle so hard, I thought we would never lose if we play like that," Kim said. "We were motivated after seeing them win the gold medal, and it gave us a big confidence boost."
South Korea played some dogged defense and took better care of the ball, committing just one turnover to Qatar's nine.
Lee Ju-yeong of South Korea (R) attempts a shot against Qatar during the final of the men's 3x3 basketball at the Asian Games at Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Yonhap)
And South Korea grabbed nearly as many rebounds (16) as Qatar (17).
"I was ready to die on the court," Lee Dong-geun said. "And I think I still have some energy left."
Lee Ju-yeong, who led the team with nine points, said: "I wanted to play some tough defense on Hamad Mousa because he was their best player. I didn't care if I was going to score or not."
Ku said he will try to use this gold medal as a stepping stone for something bigger in his career.
"I will work hard to make the 5x5 national team in the future," he said. "I think if the four of us here can all be on the same team, we will be really strong."
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