South Korea Basketball Team Finds Confidence on Road to Asian Games Semifinals

South Korea's men's basketball team has transformed a difficult buildup into a convincing Asian Games campaign, reaching the semifinals after a 114-80 quarterfinal victory over Jordan in Nagoya on Wednesday.

The result at Aichi International Arena extended an unbeaten tournament run for the Korean side. The team swept its group-stage schedule, closing that phase with a 100-83 victory over host Japan before overpowering Jordan in the knockout round.

Captain Lee Seoung-hyun said the players are beginning to execute the system introduced by Latvian head coach Nikolajs Mazurs. He said the adjustment took time, but the coach continued to respect the players and gave them room to play. The team's confidence is now high as its style and tactical plans become more settled.

That confidence contrasts sharply with the concern surrounding the squad before the tournament. South Korea lost its first three games under Mazurs and then suffered back-to-back exhibition defeats to Japan in August, falling 88-68 and 95-66. Japan had NBA players available for those contests, while South Korea was missing leading shooter Lee Hyun-jung, who was attending NBA minicamps. Even so, the scale of the defeats prompted criticism from supporters and analysts.

Lee said the scrutiny ultimately brought the squad closer. The players remained patient because their main objective was an Asian Games gold medal, and he believes the team's recent defensive performances show that its work is paying off. On offense, he said the players are also learning to adapt when their three-point shooting is not effective.

Mazurs praised the team's preparation for the quarterfinal, which began at the unusual time of 10 a.m. He said the players understood the importance of establishing the tone early and found their rhythm through defensive pressure and energy.

The roster also received timely reinforcements. Forward Yeo Jun-seok returned after missing two games with a foot injury, while Choi Jun-yong joined the squad early Wednesday after pursuing an NBA G League contract.

Mazurs said injuries and roster changes had disrupted preparations throughout the summer, but the system was designed to allow replacements to step in without changing the team's pace. The emphatic win over Jordan suggested that approach is working as South Korea moves within one victory of the gold-medal game.