'Just before the Asian Games,' South Korean basketball faces a major crisis, suffering a shocking defeat in World Cup qualifiers and plummeting to last place... Coach Majors' team records a humiliating 1 win and 5 losses.

*This content was translated by AI.

'The Asian Games are less than a month away, yet the national team has encountered its most severe crisis in history. The South Korean men's basketball national team, led by coach Nikolai Majors, suffered a shocking defeat.

Under coach Majors' leadership, the South Korean national basketball team was defeated 74-93 by Lebanon in the first match of Round 2, Group F of the 2027 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Men's Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, held at the Nuhaad Nawafal Sports Complex in Jounieh, Lebanon, on the 28th (Korea time).

Including two consecutive losses in a previous away exhibition match against Japan, South Korea has now fallen into a three-game losing streak. Since coach Majors took charge, the team has managed only one official victory and five defeats (including exhibitions: one win and six losses), experiencing a serious slump.

Entering Round 2 with a record of three wins and three losses (second in their group) from Round 1, South Korea's loss today brought their record to three wins and four losses, dropping them to last place in Group F. In Round 2, where 12 teams are divided into two groups, the top three teams from each group plus the team with the better record among the fourth-place teams from both groups — totaling seven teams — will qualify for the World Cup finals.

In today's match, Yeo Jun-seok made nine of his 14 field goal attempts, contributing 19 points and four rebounds while fighting hard. Lee Jung-hyun scored 13 points (including two three-pointers) and added three assists, while Lee Hyun-jung played for 30 minutes and 57 seconds, recording 11 points (two three-pointers) and five rebounds.

Eddie Daniel also contributed six points and one assist in a short playing time of 13 minutes and 45 seconds, drawing fouls on Andwon. Lee Woo-seok and Lee Seung-hyun each added eight points.

In contrast, Lebanon exploded with Youssef Kayat scoring 21 points and grabbing six rebounds, including three dunk shots. Omar Jamal al-Din (16 points, 10 rebounds), Sergio El Darwishi (17 points), and Haik Giokjian (12 points, eight rebounds) also delivered consistent performances.

The momentum of the game shifted dramatically in the second half. South Korea built a 7-0 scoring run from 7 minutes 41 seconds to 6 minutes 19 seconds into the second quarter, thanks to consecutive scores by Yeo Jun-seok, taking a 31-22 lead and extending it to nine points before halftime. South Korea led for a total of 22 minutes and 45 seconds throughout the game, significantly longer than Lebanon's 12 minutes and 37 seconds.

However, the outcome turned in the final moments of the third quarter. Three minutes and 31 seconds before the end of the third period, Kayat was awarded two free throws, tying the score at 54-54, after which South Korea lost all momentum. Over the next 2 minutes and 36 seconds, South Korea committed two turnovers, managed only one basket (a three-pointer), and Lebanon seized the lead with consecutive free throws and rebounds, turning the score to 55-58 in their favor.

Momentum shifted further as Lebanon unleashed a fierce attack in the fourth quarter. From four minutes and 18 seconds to two minutes and 35 seconds before the end of the fourth period, Lebanon scored nine unanswered points, led by consecutive baskets from Jamal al-Din, widening the gap to 70-85. South Korea completely lost focus in the final moments and was dragged along, ultimately surrendering a record margin of 19 points with just three seconds remaining on the clock before collapsing.

The South Korean national basketball team is now in a dire situation. With only a short time left until the opening of the September 2026 Nagoya-Aichi Asian Games, the team has fallen into a severe performance slump.

South Korea will face Saudi Arabia at home on the 31st for the second match of Group F. Saudi Arabia also holds a record of three wins and four losses, making victory essential if South Korea hopes to continue its bid for qualification to the World Cup finals.

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*This content was translated by AI.