South Korea's men's basketball team has qualified for the Asian Games final, ending a 12-year wait, according to v.daum.net. The team will play Japan for the gold medal, the outlet reported.
The final sets up a Korea-Japan matchup with the title on the line. South Korea's run to the championship game has drawn attention beyond the basketball court, with Yonhap News reporting that strong performances across ball sports have lifted the mood of the wider South Korean delegation at the Games.
Much of the focus has fallen on Lee Hyun-jung, whose three-point shooting featured in the semifinal win. One report described the South Korean bench reacting in disbelief to his shooting, with a teammate cited as saying even Choi Jun-yong was stunned. Ahead of the final, Japanese coverage offered a detailed analysis of the South Korean side, warning that its defense is as dangerous as its offense and that containing Lee alone will not be enough, according to Money Today.
South Korea last reached the men's basketball final at the Asian Games 12 years ago. The gold medal game against Japan is the team's final hurdle, with the matchup framed in South Korean media as a rivalry fixture.
Attention now turns to whether South Korea can convert its semifinal form into a gold medal, and how Japan adjusts its game plan after identifying the team's defense as a threat.