[FIBA 아시아컵 현장리뷰] Lee Hyun-joong and Lee Woo-seok stood out… Korea couldn’t surpass Australia in ‘archery basketball’ | Sports Donga

Australia held at Goyang Sono Arena on the 24th. Goyang｜Reporter Kim Jong-won won@donga.com”/>

Lee Hyun-joong (right) is attacking through Ben Hensel’s defense during the 2025 FIBA ​​Asia Cup Preliminary Group A match against Australia held at Goyang Sono Arena on the 24th. Goyang｜Reporter Kim Jong-won won@donga.com

Korea failed to overcome Australia’s barrier in the 2025 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup preliminary group stage.

The men’s national basketball team, led by coach Ahn Jun-ho, lost 75-98 in the fourth home game of Group A against Australia held at Goyang Sono Arena on the 24th. Korea, which gained momentum by winning the second game against Thailand and the third game against Indonesia, was unable to overcome Australia’s barrier and recorded a record of 2 wins and 2 losses in the group stage. Korea will play the 5th and 6th games against Thailand on February 20th and Indonesia on February 23rd next year.

Korea won 86-78 against Indonesia on the 21st, but there was great concern because the performance was not satisfactory. It was also disappointing that we couldn’t have the best members. While Lee Jeong-hyeon (Goyang Sono) left due to knee joint inflammation, Ha Yoon-ki (Suwon KT) and Kim Jong-gyu (Wonju DB) were also unable to join due to injury, resulting in a significant drop in height. Overseas players Lee Hyeon-joong (Australia Illawarra), who returned to the national team after three years, and Lee Seung-hyeon (Busan KCC), who had extensive experience in international competitions, had to endure.

Moreover, Australia is a team that is superior in both strength and height to Indonesia, so it was expected to be a difficult match. In the first away game, we lost to Australia 71-85, so we had to come up with a more detailed strategy. Coach Ahn also emphasized, “Against Australia, we need to supply the ball smoothly, create better chances, and increase shooting accuracy,” and added, “Lee Hyun-joong’s performance is also important to win air superiority against tall players.”

Unlike the Indonesia game, the day started well. Throughout the first quarter, the offense was centered around Woo-Seok Lee (17 points, 5 rebounds, Ulsan Hyundai Mobis) and Hyun-Joong Lee (14 points, 9 rebounds), and they even induced fouls by the opponent by actively breaking through. Although Australian center Nicholas Kay (13 points, 12 rebounds) struggled with his height, the guard team, including substitute Yoo Yu-sang (6 points, Changwon LG), moved actively and found a breakthrough.

However, in the second quarter, the team was defeated by Australia’s outbursts and the momentum was over. As many as six 3-pointers were hit by Chris Gooding (31 points), Dejan Brilivic (8 points, 7 rebounds), and Kyle Bowen (7 points). We tried to break the flow with two 3-pointers by Byun Jun-hyung (10 points, Anyang Jeonggwanjang), but the Australian players had a very good sense of shooting. They contributed 35 points in the second quarter and finished the first half with a score of 32-54.

Once the flow was over, it did not return. At the end of the third quarter, Shin Seung-min (2 points, Daegu Korea Gas Corporation) drew an unsportsmanlike foul from Australia, and Lee Hyeon-jung and Moon Yoo-hyeon (7 points, Korea University) narrowed the gap to 58-69, but no further pursuit was possible. There wasn’t. Rather, 5 minutes before the end of the game, Ben Hensel (16 points) and Gooding were hit by outside shots again, and the gap widened to 68-90, completely losing the momentum of the chase.

Goyang｜Reporter Kang San posterboy@donga.com See more articles by this reporter

Looking ahead,⁣ what ​specific improvements or ‌adjustments ‍in Korea’s ⁢defensive strategy should they prioritize when facing Thailand⁤ and Indonesia?

‍## World Today News:‌ Post-Game Analysis: Korea vs. Australia

**Host:** Welcome back ⁢to ⁢World Today News! Today we’re joined by two esteemed basketball analysts,‌ **[Guest 1 Name]**, a⁤ former national ‍team ⁢player, and **[Guest 2 Name]**, a renowned sports⁣ journalist specializing in basketball. We’re dissecting Korea’s recent loss against ‌Australia in ‌the FIBA Asia Cup preliminary round.

**Section 1: Impact of Player Absences**

**Host:** Gentlemen, ⁢Korea’s roster was visibly impacted by the absence of key players like ‍Lee Jeong-hyeon, Ha Yoon-ki, and ‍Kim⁣ Jong-gyu. How did‍ these absences ‌affect the ⁢team’s performance, particularly against ‍a physically⁤ imposing team like Australia?

**[Guest 1 Name]:**

**[Guest 2 Name]:**

**Host:** Coach⁢ Ahn emphasized the importance of ‌Lee Hyun-joong’s ​return in terms of countering Australia’s height advantage. Did Lee Hyun-joong live⁢ up to‌ these expectations?

**[Guest 1 Name]:**

**[Guest 2 Name]:**

**Section 2: Game Strategy and Execution**

**Host:** Korea started strong, ⁢showcasing⁤ effective offense led by Lee Woo-seok and Lee Hyun-joong. What tactical adjustments did Australia make ⁢to take control of ‌the game in the‌ second quarter?

⁤ **[Guest 1 Name]:**

**[Guest 2 Name]:**

**Host:**

​ Chris Gooding’s shooting performance was a crucial factor in Australia’s victory. Was there anything Korea‌ could​ have​ done differently to ‍counter his offensive ⁢output?

**[Guest 1 Name]:**

**[Guest 2 Name]:**

**Section 3: Looking Forward**

**Host:** Despite the loss, Korea ‍still has two ‌games remaining in the ⁣group ⁢stage. What are ⁢the ‌key areas Korea needs to focus on to regain momentum and secure⁣ a strong position for the next round?

**[Guest 1 Name]:**

**[Guest 2 Name]:**

**Host:** ⁣ Both Thailand and Indonesia have proven to be challenging opponents.​ How should Korea approach these ⁤upcoming games strategically?

**[Guest 1 Name]:**

**[Guest 2 Name]:**

**Host:** Thank you both⁣ for your insightful ⁢analysis. We look forward to ‌seeing how Korea bounces back in their next games.

**[End Interview]**

**Note:**

Please replace “[Guest 1 Name]” and “[Guest 2 Name]” with ⁤the actual names of your chosen‌ guests.⁣ Remember to encourage continuous discussion between‌ the guests by prompting them to build upon each other’s responses.