The South Korean men’s national basketball team was swept in a game against Korea. It was a humiliating defeat. They never led by a single second. Heo Hoon (28) couldn’t cut minutes.
South Korea lost 77-83 to Japan on Tuesday at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, in the men’s basketball Group D preliminary round of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
It was a battle for first place in Group D. Moreover, it was a fateful Korea-Japan game. We had to win. The conditions were fine. Japan didn’t bring their first team to the World Cup. The second team is young, with an average age of 24.9.
The match between South Korea and Japan during the men’s basketball group D match at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on March 30. Heo Hoon passes the ball. Photo | Hangzhou=Yonhap
In addition to Heo, South Korea has an elite squad that includes Kim Sun-hyung, Lee Seung-hyun, and Ra Gun-ah. Some players, such as Song Kyo-chang and Moon Sung-gon, were out with injuries, but it’s hard to call them weak.
The result: defeat. Japan rained 3-pointers. We gave up a whopping 17. That’s a sign of poor defense. Japan was strong in other areas as well, including fast breaks and defense.
Heo Hoon had his moments. He scored a team-high 24 points. He also dished out four assists. He hit a three-pointer in the clutch to keep the game at least close, but not much more.
The men’s basketball group D match between South Korea and Japan at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, South China’s Zhejiang Province, on March 30. Heo Hoon walks off the court after South Korea’s 77-83 loss to Japan. Photo | Hangzhou메이저사이트
The loss drops South Korea to 2-1 in Group D. Japan leads the group with three wins and Korea is second. It’s on to the round of 12. It’s tough. If they win the round of 12, they will meet China in the quarterfinals.
After the game, Heo Hoon said, “It’s a game we should have won. As a player, I’m very disappointed with this result. I’m angry with myself, and I’m angry with the players. I feel bad,” Heo said.
“But it’s not over. I will work hard in the next 12 rounds and eight rounds so that I can reach the final without fail.”
The men’s basketball group D match between South Korea and Japan at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, South China’s Zhejiang Province on Tuesday. Heo Hoon shoots the ball. Photo | Hangzhou=Yonhap
He also had some words for the squad. “To be honest, I’ve been watching the last three months of preparation, and regardless of the result, the preparation process itself, the players should have been prepared with their minds set. It’s the Asian Games. They should have put everything on the line,” he emphasized.
“I thought we lacked a lot in that regard. Winning doesn’t happen by luck. You can’t hope for a lucky break. I’m very angry about that.” He added.
In conclusion, Heo Hoon said, “Anyway, it’s all the players’ fault. Today is not the end. It’s not the end of this tournament. There is the next Asian Games, and the national team will continue. I hope the players keep that in mind and prepare well. That’s all I can think about.” raining99@sportsseoul.com
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