*This content was translated by AI.
As the Korean Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team defeated Iran and advanced to the Asian Games finals for the first time in 12 years, local Iranian media also focused intensely on the outstanding performance of Korea's ace, Lee Hyun-jung.
The Korean Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team, led by coach Nicolas Mazulis of Latvia, decisively defeated Iran 77-51 in the men's basketball semi-finals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 18th.
Korea returned to the Asian Games finals stage for the first time since winning the gold medal at the 2014 Incheon tournament, marking a 12-year comeback.
At the center of the victory was Lee Hyun-jung. On this day, he scored the most points among both teams with an impressive 26 points. He also recorded 14 rebounds and 4 assists to achieve a double-double.
Especially, his long-range shooting erupted. He attempted 13 three-pointers and successfully made 7 of them.
Lee Hyun-jung's outstanding performance has continued throughout this tournament.
From the first group stage match against Saudi Arabia, he led Korea to their first victory by recording the team's highest score of 23 points. In the subsequent match against Indonesia, he poured in 24 points, including four three-pointers.
In the final group stage match against host nation Japan, while Lee Jung-hyun exploded for 25 points, Lee Hyun-jung added 16 points to contribute to a 100-83 victory.
As they entered the tournament bracket, his presence became even stronger. In the quarter-finals against Jordan, he recorded 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, including six three-pointers. Leading with Lee Hyun-jung, Korea decisively defeated Jordan, the runner-up from the previous tournament, 114-80.
He once again fulfilled his role as the ace in the match against Iran, where advancement to the finals was at stake.
He has shown consistent explosive power, scoring over 20 points in no less than four out of five matches in this tournament.
Most importantly, he was even stronger at crucial moments during the Iran match.
Although Korea led 36-24 at halftime, the outcome was not yet completely decided.
However, as Lee Hyun-jung's scoring machine erupted in the third quarter, the game was effectively settled. Having already completed a double-double in the first half, Lee Hyun-jung scored 12 points alone in the third quarter.
Especially, the highlight was the moment he successfully made a three-pointer near the end of the third quarter while drawing a foul from the opponent. Lee Hyun-jung also made the additional free throw, completing a perfect four-point play.
Thanks to this, Korea finished the third quarter with a commanding 61-37 lead, extending their advantage by as much as 24 points and solidifying their hold on the game. In the final fourth quarter, they managed the match more comfortably and secured the ticket to the finals.
Local Iranian media also focused intensely on Lee Hyun-jung's performance. Tarafdari, an Iranian outlet, reported that "Lee Hyun-jung became the game's leading scorer with 26 points" and added that he "scored 12 points alone in the third quarter."
Another Iranian outlet, Tehran Times, also reported that "Korea's Lee Hyun-jung played outstandingly with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists, leading Korea to victory."
Korea's sharp long-range shooting was also a decisive weapon that brought down Iran. On this day, Korea successfully made as many as 14 three-pointers. Lee Hyun-jung accounted for half of them with 7, while Lee Jung-hyun and Lee Woo-seok each scored 3.
Lee Woo-seok recorded 19 points, providing solid support behind Lee Hyun-jung. Especially, he poured in 14 points in the first half alone, playing a decisive role in allowing Korea to seize the initiative from the start. Choi Jun-yong, who joined the national team starting from the quarter-finals, also added one three-pointer.
Tarafdari reported that "the Iranian national basketball team struggled against Korea's three-pointers" and concluded that "Iran ultimately failed to advance to the finals."
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*This content was translated by AI.
