Despite playing without key personnel, head manager Park Soo-ho’s squad relied on a suffocating defensive press and a sharp-shooting perimeter attack to secure the 66-point win at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.
A Slow Start Before a Defensive Surge
Things didn’t immediately click for South Korea on the floor. The team missed its early looks from beyond the arc, falling behind 7-6 in the opening minutes as Malaysia capitalized on early offensive transitions. South Korea forced a flurry of turnovers by trapping the ball handler, racking up seven steals in the first quarter alone. Forward Choi Eisaem eventually broke the perimeter drought, sinking a three-pointer to flip the score to 9-8 before extending the lead to 11-8. The defensive stops triggered a fast-break rhythm, allowing South Korea to close the opening frame ahead 22-10.
Deep Roster Steps Up in Absence of Star Players
South Korea entered the tournament missing significant star power. Center Park Ji-su was sidelined with an injury, leaving the roster short of its full 12-player limit at 11 athletes, alongside the absence of guard Park Ji-hyun. Rather than faltering, the supporting cast carried the scoring load. Guard Lee So-hee led all scorers with 21 points—including five three-pointers on seven attempts—while adding four assists and four steals. Choi chipped in 19 points, and floor general Hur Yeen orchestrated the offense with 11 points and eight assists. Additional contributions came from Lee Ha-ran with 12 points, Kang Yoolim with 11 points, and naturalized player Hong Yu-sun, who anchored the paint with nine points and 12 rebounds.
Explosive Second Quarter Breaks the Game Open
The blowout took definitive shape before halftime. South Korea caught fire in the second period, draining six three-pointers in a relentless 10-minute span. Lee sparked a quick personal five-point run, while Jin An added physical play inside the paint. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 59-22, stretching a modest 12-point first-quarter advantage into a commanding 37-point cushion. Head manager Park’s team maintained the pressure after the intermission, pushing the gap to 81-32 by the end of the third quarter and eventually clearing the century mark to seal the 106-40 final score.
Tournament Context and Next Opponents
Drawn into Group C alongside Malaysia, Mongolia, and Chinese Taipei, South Korea is hunting its first Asian Games gold medal since the 2014 Incheon tournament. Having cleared their first hurdle despite the roster limitations, the squad will face Mongolia on September 21, followed by a matchup against Chinese Taipei on September 22.
