Shocked! 13% on 3-pointers, couldn't win. 71-79 Korean semifinals frustrated by the Great Wall. Lee Hyun-joong scored 22 points. Generation change + One Team Korea got it
Aug 14, 2025
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South Korea lost to China 71-79 in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIBA Men's Basketball Asia Cup held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the 14th (Korea time).
Lee Hyun-joong scored 22 points and seven rebounds, while Ha Yoon-ki also scored 15 points and nine rebounds. In China, Hu Jin-chu (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Wang Jun-je (21 points, 8 rebounds) were active.
It was a close game from the beginning of the game. The first quarter ended with China leading by one point at 25-24.
South Korea's pressure defense was still solid. Game award drive and kick. Yang Jun-seok's open 3-pointer. However, a failure. We could see the weaknesses of China's outer defense.
Ha Yoon-ki's cool block burst. However, Yu Jiahao's putback score went off China's fastball. He is tall at 2m21 and is the next big man that China boasts.
Lee Hyun-joong and Yoo Ki-sang's three-point shots missed one after another. South Korea's defense, however, remained unshakable. Rather, the pressure was further strengthened and the outskirts of China were sealed off. At this time, Joo Jun-long's 3rd store burst. Zhao Louie connected on the side after 2-2.
30-24, China's six-point lead. In the end, Korea's operation time. So far, South Korea has made only two 3-pointers, 22%, and China has made 50% with six 3-pointers. This difference was reflected in the score.
Lee Hyun-joong's sharp breakthrough. Later, he added a hedge and even got a foul from Chinese center Hu Jin-chu. The basket count.
Lee Hyun-joong's 3-pointer failed in a fast attack situation. Then China responded again with a swift attack. Wang Jun-je's under-the-goal score.
However, Lee Hyun-joong got a foul and scored two points. China was caught in a team foul with 6:01 left.
China is Wang Jun-je and Hu Jintsu's high-low. However, it was caught in Ha Yoon-ki's hands. Lee Hyun-joong got a foul after dribbling again. Two free throws. 32-30, chasing by two points.
China had another offensive rebound, but was blocked by South Korea's triple team.
Lee Woo-suk's 3-pointer missed the mark. Then, Wang Jun-je of China hit a three-point game. However, Korea did not miss the flow. Jung Sung-woo got another foul with an exquisite footwork. He made only one foul free throw.
South Korea's defense was solid, but the outside shot didn't work throughout the second quarter. Eventually, the flow of pursuit is cut off. On the other hand, despite South Korea's pressure, China occasionally scored with a 2-2 under-the-goal breakthrough. Hu Jin-chu shoots under the basket again through a fast roll. 39-31, again by eight points. South Korea's operational time.
Jung Sung-woo used the screen and succeeded in a mid-jumper. However, China's Wang Jun-je is a putback after the offensive rebound again. It even led to Guo Xiyuan's under-the-goal breakthrough.
Chinese flow. Yeo Jun-seok uses his personal skills to make a mid-jumper. South Korea had another chance to speed up, but Ha Yoon-ki fouled the attacker due to excessive use of off-arm.
Wang Jun-je hit a three-run homer on the wing. After a 2-2 attack, China kicked out to the outside when the South Korean defense checked the big man going under the basket. It created a 3-pointer chance. The Chinese attack was monotonous, but it was certainly powerful because of the height of the big men. In the end, China's lead ended the first half by 46-35, 11 points. "Attack rebound, 13-7, advantage of China." In terms of success rate of 3-point shooting, Korea only accounted for 18.2 percent. The two differences were key for South Korea 11 points behind in the first half.
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I put a jumper in the middle range. And I even made a block shot. And then Zhao Luiz's three-pointer burst. It was perfectly China's pace.
On the other hand, Korea missed an open 3-pointer by Yoo Ki-sang.
Lee Hyun-joong was isolated, and it was not easy for Korea to find a way to attack. It was a moment when Lee Jung-hyun's absence was felt. 51-35, 16 points clear.
However, China was organized. He confused Korea's outer defense with a weave action, broke through as it was and used Hu Jin-chu to target the bottom of the goal.
In Korea, Lee Hyun-joong cheered up. Two free throws due to opponent fouls. He won another free throw in a fastball situation. He collapsed holding his knee during the breakthrough, but he stood up and scored a free throw.
South Korea used regional defense. China's fouls piled up and continued to give up free throws. In the end, South Korea trailed by 58-46, 12 points.
Yang Joon-seok succeeded in stealing. And Lee Hyun-joong's three-point game broke out. After Yang Joon-seok received the screen, he made a three-point shot, and Zhao Louie committed a foul. In the end, they chase by 60-52, 8 points.
China is shaken. He even got an attacker foul.
However, Lee Hyun-joong's three points did not explode again this time. Then, Wang scored two points in the mid-range for China. At this time, a putback score by Hu Jin-chu's offensive rebound. There was even Ha Yoon-ki's screen foul.
However, China also committed unnecessary fouls again in a team foul situation. South Korea's free throw score. 64-55, nine points behind. In the end, the third quarter ended by chasing single digits in the third quarter.
Yang Jun-seok's superb pass to Yeo Jun-seok. Under the basket, Yeo Jun-seok scored the dunk as it was. 67-61, chasing by six points. China was finally caught in the chase in the fourth quarter.
China's Operation Time.
At this time, a strong variable occurred. A screen for Ha Yoon-ki to create an attack chance for Yoo Ki-sang. However, it moved. Five offences. Kim Jong-kyu entered the court.
South Korea is in the 2-3 matchup zone. However, China again connects to Hu Jin-chu, who is rushing under the basket after a quick pass from the outside. He widened the lead again to 71-61, a 10-point gap.
Lee Hyun-joong succeeded in scoring a golden putback. However, Yeo Jun-seok's 3-pointer failed at the corner opening chance. Throughout the match, Korea's three points did not work.
A still from the game with 3 minutes and 33 seconds left. He got a foul free throw. However, both failed. He caught the offensive rebound. Yang Joon-seok scored a floater after receiving the screen.
However, China succeeded in scoring two post-ups by Hu Jin. Again, 8 points.
Lee Hyun-joong sought another three-point shot, but Lim turned a blind eye. However, Korea again induced China's mistakes with a surprise trap. The time left is 2 minutes and 14 seconds.
However, Yang Jun-seok's three-run shot missed again this time. In the end, Korea had no choice but to admit defeat. South Korea attempted as many as 23 3-pointers, but made only three. The success rate of shooting by pressure defense has fallen sharply. In addition, China was wary of Korea's outskirts with strong pressure and switch defense to keep its outer 3-pointer in check.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
