"Final-Day Bus Missing? We Overcame It With Skill" Men's Basketball Crushes Japan 67-57... Gold Medal After 12 Years [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] A resounding fourth gold-medal roar rang out in Nagoya, the heart of Japan. Even the host nation's excessive home-court favoritism could not stop South Korea's charge toward gold. The South Korea men's national basketball team secured a thrilling victory in the first Korea-Japan final in Asian Games history, reclaiming the top spot in Asian basketball after 12 years.
The South Korea men's national basketball team, led by head coach Nikolajs Mazuls, routed Japan 67-57 in the men's basketball final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 20th. It was an emotional championship victory, coming 12 years after the 2014 Incheon Games.



The biggest driving force behind the victory was the grit that emerged from adversity. On the morning of the final, the training shuttle bus scheduled by the organizing committee failed to arrive, forcing South Korea to cancel its entire morning shooting practice. It was an extremely difficult situation that could have shaken the team, but instead it became a powerful catalyst that fueled the players' determination.
The early stages of the game turned into a suffocating defensive battle. Both teams struggled with their shooting throughout the first half, including a combined 3-for-11 from three-point range, as the physical defensive contest continued. South Korea focused on containing Japan's top scorer, Kanetika Ren, who had 10 points in the first half. On offense, 'KBL MVP' Lee Jung-hyun broke through with nine points. Lee Hyun-jung was held to five points by Japan's concentrated defense, but quietly helped South Korea maintain a 28-28 tie with fearless hustle plays and strong rebounding.

South Korea's dormant offense exploded in the third quarter. Lee Hyun-jung, who had been quiet until then, opened the comeback with a steal and layup, and Byeon Jun-hyeong's step-back three-pointer completely shifted the momentum. With his confidence rising, Lee Hyun-jung hit consecutive shots from outside and dominated the court throughout the quarter. Lee Seoung-hyun also added points with a deft pick-and-roll that exploited the lack of speed of Japan's naturalized big man, Alex Kirk. When Lee Jung-hyun's dagger three-pointer went through the net late in the third quarter, South Korea had surged ahead 55-47. 
With the game in hand, South Korea showed no mercy in the fourth quarter. Lee Hyun-jung reached the 20-point mark early, stretching the lead to 62-49, or 13 points. Japan grew desperate and repeatedly attempted shots from outside, but could not break through South Korea's tight defensive wall. With 1 minute and 30 seconds remaining, Lee Jung-hyun cleverly stole the ball from Japan's guard Ogawa, effectively sealing the outcome. Lee Hyun-jung then calmly converted both free throws to cap a thrilling 67-57, 10-point victory.

Most significant of all was that South Korea dominated Japan on its home court without a single naturalized player, despite Japan being anchored by a naturalized big man. Nikolajs Mazuls' team had raised concerns after suffering two consecutive losses in exhibition games just before the tournament, but it turned those doubts into praise by routing Japan twice in the main competition.
South Korea's men's basketball team overcame even the absurd home-court slight of a 'no-show' at the training venue through sheer skill. With a fighting spirit brighter than ever, the players finally ended their 12-year-long wait for an Asian Games gold medal.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter