Japan also felt tense as Korea's 3rd quarter 'pressure defense'... They narrowed the gap to 9 points but couldn't hold on in the 4th quarter

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Korean Yeo Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team failed to sustain the momentum of their comeback in the 3rd 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 Basketball 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 3rd quarter.

Korea raised its defensive intensity from the start, disrupting Japan's offensive flow. Japan tried 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 3rd 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 Japanese local media also took notice of Korea's comeback. The Japanese basketball specialty outlet Basketball King stated, "Korea raised its defensive intensity, causing Japan's offense to stall," and added, "Japan was outscored 12-18 in the 3rd quarter by Korea."

However, the problem arose in the final 4th quarter. Although Korea needed to maintain its strong momentum from the 3rd quarter, its offense faltered again. Lee Hae-ran (Samsung Life) and Kang I-seul (Woori Bank) missed shots that didn't hit the rim, leading to a frustrating period of about four minutes without any points.

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

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

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original