*This content was translated by AI.
After securing early qualification for the U-19 (under-19) World Cup, Shin Jong-seok, head coach of the under-18 men's national basketball team, expressed strong determination to win a medal at the Asian Cup.
The South Korean team led by Coach Shin Jong-seok defeated Taiwan 107-79 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIBA U-18 Asia Cup held on the 21st (Korea time) at Bir Savarkar Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.
Having finished first in Group D with three straight wins in the group stage and advanced directly to the quarterfinals, South Korea reached the semifinals of the tournament for the first time in four years with this victory. At the same time, they secured a ticket to the 2027 FIBA U-19 World Cup finals, which is awarded to the top four teams in this tournament.
According to the Korean Basketball Association, Coach Shin Jong-seok stated, "In the group stage, I was very concerned because the players' shooting form was generally poor overall." He added, "After two days of rest, the players competed in good condition and were able to win by progressing through the game more smoothly than expected."
The national team managed only 67 points in their final group stage match against Japan, but on this day they exploded for 107 points with a field goal percentage of 51.9% and a two-point shot success rate of 60.9%. Explaining the secret behind their revitalized offense, Coach Shin said, "During the rest period, we focused intensely on conditioning the players and instructed them to take shots confidently whenever an opportunity arose. Thanks to the players' excellent execution of these instructions, it led to a high field goal percentage."
Even in their decisive victory, they did not lose their coolness. Coach Shin remarked, "From the group stage onward, we had weaknesses compared to our opponents, particularly in rebounding, which has been a constant concern." He emphasized, "Rebounding is not something one player can do well alone. All players must participate together and strive at least to narrow that gap. There are still many areas for improvement in defensive aspects such as defensive rotation and box-out after shots."
He also conveyed his resolve ahead of the semifinals where medals will be contested. Coach Shin predicted, "I believe Australia has a high probability of reaching the semifinals. Australia is an exceptionally strong team physically, so it will not be an easy match."
Continuing, he pledged, "We too must find the best approach. We will thoroughly prepare to actively utilize fast breaks and create maximum confusion for our opponents using trap defense or zone defense, enabling us to compete on equal footing."
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*This content was translated by AI.
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