Lee Jung-hyun explodes for 27 points, Majus and Lee Hyun-jung also shine... "He did well not just with shots but in everything"

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jung-hyun of the Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team exploded for 27 points, signaling a perfect comeback. Nicholas Majus and national team ace Lee Hyun-jung also welcomed Lee Jung-hyun's outstanding performance.

On the 4th, South Korea secured a decisive 81-55 victory over the Philippines in a home game at the Hana Bank Invitational 2026 Men's National Team Evaluation Match held at Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena.

This evaluation match served as a final practical rehearsal to check performance and condition ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. South Korea will face the Philippines again in their second evaluation match on the 6th at 2 p.m. at the same venue.

At the center of the victory was Lee Jung-hyun.

Lee Jung-hyun, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for domestic players in the KBL regular season for the 2025–2026 season, scored an impressive 27 points on this day, leading both teams in scoring. Notably, he sank seven three-point shots, showcasing explosive outside shooting ability.

His performance was especially welcome given that he has been working to regain his game rhythm since returning from injury.

The head coach also showered Lee Jung-hyun with strong praise. After the game, Coach Majus said, "He is truly a great player," adding, "Because he returned from injury, he needed time. He joined us in Jincheon a bit late and did not play in the evaluation match against Japan. Even though he had to step into games immediately afterward, Lee Jung-hyun has been working very hard. I respect him."

The praise went beyond simply acknowledging his high scoring output. Coach Majus explained, "Our point guard must make passes as well as take shots. It is a truly important role that requires managing the game for the team."

He continued, "Lee Jung-hyun did well not only with shots but in every aspect. His ability to finish when second-chance opportunities arose was also excellent."

Adding, "Lee Jung-hyun needs to find his own rhythm and pace. He has been doing well so far," he expressed confidence, saying, "I have great faith in Lee Jung-hyun."

Lee Hyun-jung also welcomed Lee Jung-hyun's performance more than anyone else. While noting, "It was still a game with some areas needing improvement, leaving room for regret," he added, "What truly made me feel good is that Lee Jung-hyun hyung has found his rhythm."

South Korea will compete in Group A at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games against Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Japan, aiming to reach the quarterfinals. They will face Saudi Arabia first on the 10th in the group stage, followed by Indonesia on the 11th and Japan on the 13th.

Lee Jung-hyun regaining his peak condition ahead of the tournament is a major boost for the national team. If opposing defenses focus heavily on Lee Hyun-jung, having Lee Jung-hyun as a reliable scoring option could significantly diversify South Korea's offensive choices.

Especially with Lee Jung-hyun taking on the point guard role, his contributions in scoring, passing, and game management will reduce the burden on the entire Lim Jin-da-myeon (CEO) team.

It was not just Lee Jung-hyun. In the match against the Philippines, several players provided consistent support, allowing South Korea to maintain strong momentum throughout the game.

In particular, Moon Yu-hyun scored points whenever the Philippines tried to close the gap in the second quarter, helping break their momentum and contributing 8 points to the victory. Lee Won-seok also recorded 10 points, while young player Eddie Daniel made his presence felt with 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Lee Hyun-jung evaluated, "Players coming off the bench like Lee Won-seok, Moon Yu-hyun, Eddie Daniel, and Jang Jae-seok each played their roles well."

He further emphasized, "It is important that other players step up when I cannot make shots," adding, "The entire team must be able to maintain momentum, as seen in this game."

He reflected, "When Lee Jung-hyun hyung was off the court, Moon Yu-hyun showed excellent form. I felt no pressure and remained relaxed, playing with joy. Thanks to that, I was also able to secure rebounds effectively."

Although Lee Hyun-jung scored only 6 points on this day, he contributed to the team's victory in another way by grabbing an impressive 15 rebounds.

Under Coach Majus's leadership, South Korean men's basketball had struggled to gain momentum for some time. Before the Philippines match, their official record stood at just two wins and six losses. However, after defeating Saudi Arabia in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers on the last day of last month, they followed up with a decisive victory over the Philippines in this evaluation match, successfully turning the tide.

Core resource Lee Jung-hyun of the Yeo Gi-e (CEO) team has also shown signs of regaining his rhythm since returning from injury. This is an extremely welcome signal for the national team ahead of the Asian Games. The reasons why Coach Majus and Lee Hyun-jung welcomed Lee Jung-hyun's performance lie precisely here.

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*This content was translated by AI.