Korean men's basketball team falls to Japan, endangering quarterfinal hopes

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Korean men's basketball team falls to Japan, endangering quarterfinal hopes

  • 기자 사진
  • PAIK JI-HWAN
Korea's Heo Hoon, center, shoots during a Hangzhou Asian Games group stage game against Japan at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Saturday. [YONHAP]

Korea's Heo Hoon, center, shoots during a Hangzhou Asian Games group stage game against Japan at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Saturday. [YONHAP]

 
The Korean men’s basketball team suffered an 83-77 loss to Japan in their last group stage game at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Saturday, leaving themselves a chance to reach the quarterfinals through the round of 12.
 
The game at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China was Korea’s last game in Group D and a win would have allowed them to advance to the knockout stage as Group D winners.  
 

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Their efforts fell short, however, with Korea losing the first quarter 23-17. They attempted to bounce back in the second quarter, but failed to turn things around and ended it at 43-37.  
 
Korea’s defense seemed shaky, allowing multiple 3-pointers during the game.  
 
The score became 61-53 by the end of third quarter and Japan claimed a win with the final score of 83-77.  
 
With the win, Japan reached the quarterfinals with three consecutive wins in Group D. Korea, on the other hand, now have to face a third-place team from Group C to stay alive in the Asiad.  
 
In the Asian Games, group winners directly reach the quarterfinals, with runners-up and third-placed teams playing in the last round of 12 to join the final eight.  
 
The qualification game for the quarterfinals will take place on Monday, with the opponent yet to be decided.  
 
As of press time Saturday, Jordan is leading Group C, with the Philippines in second, Thailand in third and Bahrain at the bottom.  
 
The Korean men’s basketball team will have to bounce back in Monday’s game, as they are aiming for their fifth Asiad gold this year.  
 
The last time they topped the podium was in 2014, when the beat Iran in the final.  

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]
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