(Asiad) S. Korea basketball coach praises team for timely effort in win over Japan

Nagoya, Japan -- South Korean basketball head coach Nikolajs Mazurs commended his team's timely performance in their decisive victory over Japan during the men's basketball tournament at the Asian Games. Guard Lee Jung-hyun scored 25 points, while center Jang Jae-seok contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, leading South Korea to a 100-83 win at the Aichi International Arena, securing the top spot in Group A. With three consecutive wins, South Korea advanced to the quarterfinals, leaving Japan in second place.

Lee, a Korean Basketball League MVP, made three consecutive three-pointers and five treys in the third quarter. Jang, listed at 205 centimeters, played heavily inside the paint against the taller Japanese center Alex Kirk. South Korean head coach Mazurs praised the team's effort, stating that every player stepped up at the right moment.

South Korean forward Lee Jung-hyun remained unsatisfied with the victory, emphasizing that the team's ultimate goal is to win the tournament.