“Just Two Games Away from the Gold Medal”... Full-Strength Mazurs Squad Unleashes 114-Point Barrage to Reach Semifinals for First Time in Eight Years [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] South Korea’s men’s national basketball team stormed past Jordan, the runner-up at the previous Asian Games, to reach the Asian Games semifinals for the first time in eight years.
South Korea, coached by Nikolajs Mazurs of Latvia, defeated Jordan 114–80 in the men’s basketball quarterfinal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 16th, advancing to the semifinals.
South Korea returned to the semifinals for the first time in eight years since winning bronze at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, successfully restoring its reputation. The victory completely erased the painful humiliation of being eliminated in the quarterfinals and finishing seventh—the team’s lowest-ever placing—at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. After going undefeated in all three group-stage games, Mazurs’ squad proved that its firepower, which has produced at least 100 points in three consecutive games, ranks among the best in Asia.


Most notably, South Korea fielded a full-strength roster for the first time since the tournament began. Choi Jun-yong of KCC, who had missed the group stage while pursuing an opportunity to move to the United States, joined the team unexpectedly the previous day, maximizing its strength.
South Korea controlled the game from the opening minutes of the first quarter. After taking a 10–0 lead in just over three minutes, the team pulled further ahead with a dunk by Yeo Jun-seok of Seattle University, who had returned from injury, and led 28–8 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Choi Jun-yong came off the bench and immediately hit a three-pointer, extending the lead to 42–15. South Korea went into halftime comfortably ahead, 51–27.
The third quarter put the game beyond doubt. Lee Hyun-jung of the Portland Trail Blazers erupted with shots from both inside and outside, giving South Korea an 84–44 lead late in the quarter—a 40-point margin—and effectively deciding the outcome early. Choi Jun-yong was ejected after receiving a technical foul midway through the fourth quarter, but the development had no impact on the already one-sided game.
South Korea’s “ace,” Lee Hyun-jung, completely dominated the court despite playing only 20 minutes. He recorded 28 points, including six three-pointers, along with nine rebounds and five assists. Yoo Ki-sang of the Changwon LG Sakers added 16 points, while Lee Jung-hyun of the Goyang Sono Skygunners contributed 12 points and six assists.

All 12 players listed on the roster scored, producing a balanced performance. South Korea also overwhelmed Jordan in key statistics, including rebounds, 44–29, and assists, 36–18. After securing a semifinal berth with a complete performance, South Korea will face the winner of Iran versus Bahrain in the highly anticipated semifinal on the 18th. To reclaim the gold medal, which has eluded the team for 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, South Korea’s players now need just two more wins.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter