[On-Site Interview] "I Didn't Want to Lose to Japan" Daniel's Powerful Dunk in Korea-Japan Game Earns Praise from the Coach as a 'Great Guy'

*This content was translated by AI.

"I was so happy."

Eddie Daniel (19, Seoul SK), who delivered a explosive dunk in the Korea-Japan game, smiled happily.

The Korean Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team defeated 'eternal rival' Japan 81-79 in the final sixth match of Round 1 B Group of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers held at Goyang Sono Arena on the 6th.

With this result, Korea recorded three wins and three losses, accumulating nine points to advance to the second round as the second-place team in Group B. In this first round, Korea was grouped with Japan, China, and Taiwan in Group B. Japan finished first in the group with four wins and two losses, earning ten points. Korea, which had to win its final match, defeated Japan and rose from fourth to second place, completing the first round.

China also recorded three wins and three losses with nine points but fell to third place due to the head-to-head rule. Nevertheless, they secured a spot in the second round. Taiwan finished last in the group with two wins and four losses, earning eight points, and was eliminated.

In this first round of Asian qualifiers, the top three teams from each group advance to the second round. Passing through the second round qualifies a team for the FIBA Basketball World Cup finals next year in Qatar. A total of seven tickets are allocated to the Asia-Oceania region for the finals, excluding host nation Qatar.

The path to victory against Japan was not easy. Korea had to face Japan without Lee Hyun-joong (San Antonio Spurs), who participated in the NBA Summer League, and Lee Jung-hyun (Goyang Sono), who sat out due to an ankle injury. They had to compete against Japan without their two aces.

The flow of the game was not favorable during the middle stages. Korea allowed consecutive points to Japan in the second half of the third quarter, falling behind by double digits. If they could not quickly close the gap, they risked losing momentum entirely.

In this crisis, Choi Jun-yong (Busan KCC) came alive. With Korea trailing 40-51, Choi Jun-yong hit a crucial three-pointer to start the comeback. He then added jump shots, fast-break points, and free throws, shifting the momentum. Just over one minute before the end of the third quarter, Korea had narrowed the score to 51-54, with Choi responsible for nine of the team's eleven points during this stretch.

Daniel also played a significant role. With 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Daniel secured a steal and sprinted down the court to deliver a powerful two-handed dunk. It was not just a simple two points; it was a moment that further boosted Korea's comeback momentum. Daniel roared, and his teammates and Korean fans cheered together.

Momentum shifted in Korea's favor as Choi Jun-yong added more points, allowing Korea to take the lead 55-54 and end the third quarter. They maintained favorable flow into the fourth quarter. Although there were moments of nervousness during Japan's fierce late-game comeback attempt, Korea held on to their lead until the end, dramatically continuing their World Cup challenge. On this day, Daniel played for 17 minutes and two seconds, recording nine points and five steals. It was a game that left an impression far beyond his statistics.

After the match, Daniel smiled about the dunk in the Korea-Japan game, saying, "A dunk in the Korea-Japan game can only be good. I was so happy."

Korea had previously lost to Taiwan in overtime despite leading by as much as 19 points at one stage. It was a bitter result, but for Daniel, it also became an opportunity for growth.

Daniel said, "There were things that went well and areas that needed improvement in this game. However, I think the previous match against Taiwan helped me grow. Losing to Taiwan then made me feel ashamed to face Hyung-joong today. But by defeating Japan today, I can now look him in the eye."

Nicholas Mazur, Korean national team coach, praised Daniel's performance against Japan. Coach Mazur stated, "Daniel showed excellent defense. He plays that role even for his club team. His passion and fighting spirit displayed in the game against Japan were remarkable," and he highly evaluated him as a "Great Guy."

Regarding his own performance, Daniel explained, "I think Coach Mazur gave me more playing time in the game against Japan. Since I was with the Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) team, I had a strong desire not to lose to Japan. Thinking that way probably helped me perform better."

With China defeating Taiwan earlier, Korea found itself in a situation where victory against Japan was absolutely necessary. Had they lost to Japan, they could have been eliminated from the first round due to the head-to-head rule. However, even in this do-or-die match, Daniel showed even stronger determination.

He said, "After the China-Taiwan match ended, some players urged us to win against Japan. But as soon as I saw it, I thought, 'We will advance.'"

Daniel, with a British father and Korean mother, was a top prospect who attracted attention from an early age. He was the first player selected by a professional club under the KBL's local player system, joining SK without going through the rookie draft.

Last year, he received the '2025 Futures Star Award' at the ceremony held on the 24th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The award is given to the top athlete across basketball, football, and volleyball categories for contributions to the development of Korean sports and the revitalization of amateur athletics, as established by StarNews.

He also made his presence felt from his first professional season. Daniel appeared in 30 regular-season games during the 2025-2026 season, averaging 22 minutes and 25 seconds per game, recording 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. He quickly grew by winning the KBL Sixth Man Award.

He also contributed to the professional Gyeong Heom-eun (CEO) team. Most importantly, he gained confidence. Daniel said, "There were many burdensome tasks, but through national team training and professional games, playing alongside foreign players and tall players reduced my pressure. I think that's why I was able to perform better."

Not only Daniel, but also '2004-born guard' Kang Sung-wook (Suwon KT) added strength by scoring seven points in just the second quarter. The energy of young players certainly contributed to Korea's victory against Japan. Daniel said, "Sung-wook and I are among the younger players, so we have talked a lot and gotten along well. Although our seniors play basketball better, they excel in some areas while we also have our strengths. We agreed to show as much of what we can do on the court."

Korea now heads toward the second round. Daniel promised an even better performance. He said, "By defeating Japan, we advanced to the second round. There are still parts that don't quite fit yet. I will work on those areas and show better games in the Middle East."

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*This content was translated by AI.