Lee Hyun-joong of the Korean men’s national basketball team throws a 3-point shot during the 2025 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup preliminary round 3 match against Indonesia held at Sono Arena in Goyang on the 21st. Goyang | Yonhap News
I almost suffered embarrassment, but my concentration paid off at the end. The Korean men’s basketball team defeated Indonesia in the 2025 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers.
The Korean men’s basketball team (53rd in FIBA rankings), led by coach Ahn Jun-ho, defeated Indonesia (77th) 86-78 in the third game of Group A of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers held at Sono Arena in Goyang on the 21st.
This preliminary round is to determine the team that will participate in the FIBA Asia Cup finals to be held in Saudi Arabia in August 2025. 24 countries will be divided into 6 groups and compete in a home-and-away format until February next year. The top two countries in each group will advance directly to the finals, and four of the six countries ranked third in each group will also advance to the finals.
Korea, which belongs to Group A along with Indonesia, Australia (7th), and Thailand (88th), has won two consecutive games following its 34-point win against Thailand in February. Korea, led by coach Ahn Jun-ho, recorded 2 wins and 1 loss in Group A. Indonesia suffered its third loss.
In the first quarter, Korea had a difficult time scoring field goals, with Lee Hyun-joong (Illawarra) and Ahn Young-jun (SK) attempting a total of seven 3-point shots but failing to make them all. On the other hand, Indonesia gave up 13 points, including two 3-pointers, to Jerome Anthony Bean Jr., giving them an early start.
Yoo Sang-sang of the Korean men’s national basketball team is dribbling in the third round match against Indonesia in the 2025 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup preliminary round held at Sono Arena in Goyang on the 21st. Goyang | Yonhap News
However, Korea deployed Oh Jae-hyun (SK), who has good defensive skills, to block Bean Junior, while on offense, Byun Jun-hyeong (Cheong Kwan-jang), who was discharged from the military a week ago, succeeded in turning the game around with a series of steals followed by a fast break, ending the first quarter with a score of 19-15. .
In the middle of the second quarter, Yoo Sang (LG)’s 3-pointer split the rim, making Korea’s first 3-pointer in 14 attempts. Next, Woo-seok Lee (Hyundai Mobis) also scored a 3-pointer to take the lead by 9 points.
However, they lost the lead by giving up 14 points to the opponent, including 8 points in a row to Brandon Zawato, and ended the first half with Byun Jun-hyung’s bottom goal barely leveling the score at 40-40.
Korea’s struggles continued in the third quarter. Yu-sang Yoo and Yu-hyeon Moon (Korea University) showed their strength, but Korea gave up an outside shot to Abraham Grajita and entered the final quarter trailing by 5 points.
Korea, which had been showing a frustrating performance in the fourth quarter, turned the game around 70-68 in the middle of the fourth quarter when Lee Hyun-joong and Ahn Young-jun successively succeeded in their first 3-point shots of the day. Then, 5 minutes and 50 seconds before the end, Woo-Seok Lee’s 3-point play created a 7-point gap, and 4 minutes and 11 seconds before the end, Young-Jun Ahn’s 3-point play increased the gap to 9 points and secured the victory.
Yoo Yu-sang performed well, scoring 13 points and 5 rebounds, including 3 3-pointers. Lee Hyun-joong, who returned to the national team after three years, had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, but saved face by shooting 11 3-pointers, which is his best, and hitting only 1. In Indonesia, Vin Junior struggled with 27 points.
Young-Jun Ahn of the Korean men’s national basketball team receives a foul during the 3rd round match against Indonesia in the 2025 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup preliminary round held at Sono Arena in Goyang on the 21st. Goyang | Yonhap News
