Key facts
- South Korea beat Japan 67-57 to win the men's basketball gold medal at the Asian Games.
- The team missed its pre-game shootaround on Sunday after its shuttle bus did not arrive.
- Captain Lee Seoung-hyun said the incident brought the team closer and fueled a 'win or die' mentality.
- Ace player Lee Hyun-jung scored a game-high 27 points and 18 rebounds in the final.
- Head coach Nikolajs Mazurs viewed the situation positively, noting the team enjoyed a walk and good weather.
Hours before the men's basketball final at the Asian Games on Sunday, the South Korean team's pre-match shootaround was canceled when their scheduled shuttle bus failed to appear. The team had been waiting at their hotel for a bus to take them to a practice gym ahead of their gold-medal match against host country Japan. Captain Lee Seoung-hyun described the incident as upsetting and unacceptable, especially before a highly watched final. However, he stated that the unexpected setback ultimately brought the team closer together, fostering a 'win or die' determination. Instead of their planned court warm-up, the players took a walk together and had coffee, using the downtime to build team chemistry and relieve tension. Lee Hyun-jung, who scored a game-high 27 points and 18 rebounds, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that performance should not drop due to external factors. Head coach Nikolajs Mazurs also focused on the positive, noting the team enjoyed the weather during their walk. In the final match, South Korea defeated Japan 67-57, securing the men's basketball gold medal for the first time in 12 years.