'From Last Place to Confidence Explosion' Nikolaj Majlous, Head Coach of the South Korean National Basketball Team: "Kept World Cup Hopes Alive... Aiming for a Perfect Run at the Asian Games" [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

After defeating Saudi Arabia and ending their losing streak, head coach Nikolaj Majlous of the South Korean national basketball team expressed strong confidence in achieving a perfect record at the Asian Games.

Under the leadership of coach Nikolaj Majlous, the South Korean national basketball team defeated Saudi Arabia 85-72 in the second match of Round 2 Group F of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asia Qualifiers held at Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena at 7 p.m. on the 31st.

After falling to last place in Group F following their first-round loss in Round 2, South Korea improved its Round 2 record to 4 wins and 4 losses with today's victory, reviving hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals. Saudi Arabia trails with 3 wins and 5 losses. In Round 2, where 12 teams are divided into two groups, a total of seven teams will qualify for the finals: the top three from each group plus the fourth-place team with the better record across both groups.

Speaking at the post-game press conference, coach Nikolaj Majlous said, "Thank you to all the fans who supported us. There were both good and bad moments, but we showed a level of performance that we haven't been able to display recently." He added, "Especially, our defense has improved significantly. We still have hope for World Cup qualification, and we will prepare well for the next game as well."

South Korea faced an intense battle from the first quarter after Saudi Arabia's star center Mohamed Al-Suweillem (31 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists) dominated inside. However, they maintained control through aggressive defensive pressure. Lee Hyun-jung, who delivered a standout performance with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, hit consecutive three-pointers, while Yeo Jun-seok (18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) scored on a dunk, helping South Korea build a lead of up to 17 points at one stage.

Regarding the improvement in defense, coach Nikolaj Majlous stated, "We showed more passion and focus than in previous games. We fought relentlessly in every matchup." He analyzed, "Our pressure effectively prevented Saudi Arabia's top scorer, Muhammad Ali Abdulhameed, from getting many touches on the ball."

He continued, "We returned from our trip to Lebanon just two days ago and were still adjusting to the time difference and recovering. I am grateful that the players poured in 100% of their passion and energy."

However, a drop in concentration during the final minutes remains an issue. In the fourth quarter, South Korea wavered under Saudi Arabia's long-range shooting and saw its lead shrink to just seven points (74-67) with two minutes and 40 seconds remaining. Addressing the shift from first-half dominance to second-half pressure, coach Nikolaj Majlous noted, "Looking at the box score, we led in rebounds and assists, committed fewer turnovers, and recorded seven steals."

He further explained, "Although our three-point shooting percentage dipped slightly in the second half, we continued to create open opportunities. The journey to Lebanon was long, and Lee Hyun-jung had only one day of team training after arriving from the United States. Teams that take many shots rely heavily on lower-body stamina. Since we invested significant energy into defense, our shooting wavered in the second half. Once players' conditions fully improve, their shots will naturally fall, and at that point, we will become an even more efficient and formidable team."

On the upcoming Asian Games, which are just ten days away, coach Nikolaj Majlous expressed firm determination. "During our second training camp in July, some players joined late due to injuries or personal reasons, making it difficult to find rhythm due to insufficient training. Currently, several players are adapting to unfamiliar positions. Just as Yeo Jun-seok has excellently fulfilled the role of center (position 5), all players are making sacrifices and adjusting to the team. The players are stepping up and dedicating themselves for the team," he said. "Our goal at the Asian Games is to win every game. We will prepare thoroughly and approach it with full commitment."

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

*This content was translated by AI.