'Dramatic Survival' Korean Men's Basketball Team Continues World Cup Challenge... 'An Young-jun and Song Kyo-chang Return' 16-Man Roster Announced

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korean Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team, having achieved a dramatic survival, is now running toward the World Cup finals again. An Young-jun (Seoul SK) and Song Kyo-chang (Osaka Evessa), who missed the previous training camp due to injury, will return to bolster the squad.

The Korea Basketball Association announced on the 13th that it has finalized a list of 16 men's national team training candidates in preparation for Window 4 of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, scheduled for August.

Under the leadership of coach Nicolas Mazzola, the Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team will play an away match in Lebanon on the 27th of next month, followed by a home game domestically on the 31st.

Previously, South Korea recorded three wins and three losses in Round 1 Group B, advancing to Round 2 as the group runner-up. South Korea was drawn into the same group as Japan, China, and Taiwan. While Japan secured first place in the group with four wins and two losses, South Korea, needing a victory in the final match, defeated Japan to leap from fourth to second place, dramatically securing its spot in the next round.

China also recorded three wins and three losses with nine points but finished third due to the head-to-head rule. However, China also successfully advanced to Round 2.

The roster includes many of the national team's existing core players, such as Lee Jung-hyun (Goyang Sono), Lee Woo-seok (Korea Army COLONY), Lee Hyun-jung, Yeo Jun-seok (University of Seattle), Choi Joon-yong (Busan KCC), and Lee Seung-hyun (Ulsan Hyundai Mobis).

Notably, An Young-jun and Song Kyo-chang, who could not join the national team due to injury ahead of Window 3, have once again donned the Taegeuk mark.

The two players are expected to provide significant strength to the Bok Gwi-neun (CEO) team's forward line. An Young-jun possesses high activity levels and perimeter shooting ability on both offense and defense. Song Kyo-chang can play multiple positions based on his excellent athleticism and height. With the addition of these two players, the national team has been able to significantly expand the height and versatility of its forward line.

Competition among young players continues. Moon Yu-hyun (Anyang Jeonggwanjang), Kang Sung-wook (Suwon KT), and Eddie Daniel (Seoul SK) are also included in the training candidate list once again, competing with existing players for the final roster spot.

The national team will assemble at Jincheon Training Center on the 20th to begin intensive strengthening training. Following this, they will play two away exhibition matches against the Japanese Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team in Tokyo, Japan, on August 15 and 16.

South Korea plans to sharpen its game readiness and check its organizational skills and tactical completion by facing the strong Japanese team. Immediately after completing the away exhibition matches in Japan, the team will proceed directly to the Window 4 schedule of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

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*This content was translated by AI.