Japan also felt the tension as Korea's third-quarter 'pressure defense'... They narrowed the gap to 9 points but could not hold on in the fourth quarter.

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korean Yeo Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team failed to sustain the momentum of their comeback in the third quarter, suffering a disappointing loss in their first exhibition match on Japanese soil.

Coached by Park Soo-ho, the Korean Yeo Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team lost 59-77 to Japan in the first leg of the 2026 Women's National Team Exhibition Match held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on the 13th.

On this day, Korea started without key players: 'National Treasure Center' Park Ji-su (KB Stars) was out due to an ankle injury, and 'Ace' Park Ji-hyun (LA Sparks) could not join due to her schedule with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Korea faced early difficulties amid the absence of core players. Immediately after the game began, Japan scored 14 consecutive points, ending the first quarter with a significant deficit of 8-25. At halftime, Korea trailed by 15 points at 30-45.

However, the atmosphere completely changed in the third quarter.

Korea raised its defensive intensity from the start, disrupting Japan's offensive rhythm. Japan attempted various combinations by simultaneously deploying two point guards, Madei Rui and Tanaka Kokoro, but could not break through Korea's strong defense.

The effect was clear. While scoring 18 points in the third quarter, Korea held Japan to just 12 points. Led by Lee So-hee (BNK)'s three-pointers, Korea closed the gap to 41-50 at one point, narrowing a nearly 20-point deficit to just 9 points and putting Japan on edge.

The comeback drew attention even in Japan. The Japanese basketball specialist outlet Basketball King stated, "Korea's increased defensive intensity stalled Japan's offense," adding, "Japan was outscored 12-18 by Korea in the third quarter."

However, the problem arose in the final fourth quarter. Although Korea needed to maintain its strong momentum from the third quarter, its offense faltered again. Lee Hae-ran (Samsung Life) and Kang Yi-seul (Woori Bank) missed several shots, leading to a frustrating four-minute stretch without any points.

During that time, Japan widened the score gap once more. Korea managed to add points late in the game through Choi I-saem (BNK) and Heo Ye-eun (KB Stars), but it was not enough to overturn the already tilted match. Ultimately, Korea concluded the game with a 59-77 loss, surrendering the first exhibition match.

Korea and Japan will play the second leg of their exhibition series at the same venue on the 14th. These matches were organized to assess team performance and organizational strength in preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.