(Asiad) S. Korea reaches men's basketball final
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea advanced to the men's basketball final of the Asian Games on Friday, beating Iran 77-51 in the semifinals to secure at least the silver medal in Japan.
Forward Lee Hyun-jung scored a game-high 26 points, including 12 in a dominant third quarter, at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, central Japan, while shooting 7-of-13 from behind the arc.
South Korea is now a victory away from claiming its first men's hoops gold medal in 12 years. The final is set for 7:40 p.m. Sunday at the same Nagoya venue.
Coached by Nikolajs Mazurs, South Korea will meet the winner of the other semifinal showdown on Friday, between China and Japan.
South Korea won all three group matches -- including one against Japan -- and then eliminated Jordan and Iran in succession to punch a ticket to the gold medal game.
Lee Hyun-jung of South Korea (C) celebrates after scoring a basket against Iran during the teams' semifinal game of the men's basketball tournament at the Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 18, 2026. (Yonhap)
Choi Jun-yong of South Korea (L) attempts a shot against Iran during the teams' semifinal game of the men's basketball tournament at the Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 18, 2026. (Yonhap)
Lee Woo-suk of South Korea (R) attempts a shot against Iran during the teams' semifinal game of the men's basketball tournament at the Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 18, 2026. (Yonhap)
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