"South Korea is a prepared team, a very difficult opponent" — also wary of semifinal rival Iran; "Lee Hyun-jung is an influential player"

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korea's Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team, aiming for its first gold medal in 12 years, has been set to face the 'powerhouse of the Middle East,' Iran, in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games semifinals. However, Iran also expressed caution toward South Korea, which has demonstrated formidable firepower throughout this tournament.

Under head coach Nicholas Mazulis of Latvia, the South Korean Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team decisively defeated Jordan 114-80 in the men's basketball quarterfinals held on the morning of the 16th at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

After sweeping Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Japan in the group stage for three consecutive victories, South Korea added another win against Jordan, marking four straight wins since the tournament opened.

With this victory, South Korea shed the disappointment of its quarterfinal exit at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games and advanced to the semifinals.

The semifinal opponent is Iran. Iran also won its quarterfinal match on the same day, defeating Bahrain 79-74. South Korea and Iran will face off on the 18th in a battle for a spot in the final.

South Korea's greatest strength in this tournament is undoubtedly its explosive offensive power.

South Korea scored 102 points against Indonesia, 100 against Japan, and an impressive 114 against Jordan. In fact, it recorded over 100 points in three of the four games played so far at this Asian Games.

Iran also took note of South Korea's upward momentum. Iranian sports media Barjesi3 reported, "By defeating Jordan, South Korea became the first team to reach the men's basketball semifinals at this Asian Games."

The media particularly highlighted that South Korea defeated Japan and Jordan, both formidable opponents, in succession.

Japan participated in this tournament with many of its key players absent but still aimed for a medal while leveraging home-court advantage. Jordan, ranked 41st in the FIBA world rankings, was also a tougher opponent than South Korea (ranked 57th), holding a 16-spot advantage.

Barjesi3 stated, "South Korea is a well-prepared team that entered this tournament with high motivation. Having defeated Japan in the group stage and now Jordan as well, they will be a difficult opponent."

Iran's media singled out Lee Hyun-jung as South Korea's ace. The outlet described him as a "star" for South Korea and noted, "He was once again an influential player for South Korea."

It further added, "Lee Hyun-jung scored 28 points in the match against Jordan and led South Korea to the semifinals," highlighting his performance.

In reality, Lee Hyun-jung exploded for 28 points in the game against Jordan, driving the offense. He also recorded nine rebounds and five assists, playing a pivotal role not only in scoring but also in rebounding and orchestrating the game.

Support from teammates was equally solid. Yu Gi-sang scored 16 points, including four three-pointers, while Lee Jung-hyun added 12 points with three long-range shots. Lee Woo-seok contributed 11 points, and Byun Jun-hyeong also reached double figures with 10 points. Yeo Jun-seok, returning from injury, added nine more points.

This is why Iran is wary of South Korea's offensive capabilities.

Of course, Iran should not be underestimated either. Ranked 28th in the FIBA world rankings, Iran holds a significantly higher position than South Korea and has long been a traditional powerhouse in Asian basketball. At last year's 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, it secured third place, demonstrating its continued competitiveness.

There is also history between the two teams. At the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, both South Korea and Iran were eliminated in the quarterfinals and then faced each other in the classification round for fifth to eighth places. In that match, South Korea lost to Iran 82-89. Ultimately, South Korea finished seventh — its worst result ever — while Iran ended in fifth place.

However, from South Korea's perspective, this presents an opportunity for revenge against that past defeat. Moreover, South Korea aims to reclaim the championship title for the first time since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, a span of 12 years.

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

*This content was translated by AI.