‘Disaster after disaster’ Chu Il-seung-ho crumbles to Iran, AG’s worst-ever 7-8 finish confirmed
In Hangzhou, the worst disaster in Korean basketball history unfolded.
Chu Il-seung’s men’s basketball team lost 82-89 to Iran in the Men’s Basketball 5th-8th place match at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games on Thursday at Zhejiang University Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China. With the loss, Korea secured its lowest-ever Asian Games finish. The previous best was fifth place at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
South Korea started Heo Hoon, Byun Jun-hyung, Lee Woo-seok, Ha Yun-ki, and Ragan-ah. After giving up the first four points of the game, Korea got off to a shaky 0-4 start. A three-pointer from Ragan-ah and a jumper from Ha Yoon-ki brought the score to 5-7.
Korea did not utilize the post well. Ha Yoon-ki was pushed out to the three-point line and got the ball, and Lee Woo-seok couldn’t get the ball in. Ragan-ah also pushed too hard from outside the paint zone. Air balls followed, but Ragan’s outside shooting was better, and Lee Woo-seok’s three-pointer gave Korea its first lead of the game, 12-11, midway through the first quarter.
Despite the retirement of Hamed Haddadi and the failure to replace him with a new generation, Iran was a formidable opponent. Kim Jong-kyu’s three-pointer and Rahgan Ah’s steal kept them close. Lee Woo-seok missed a three-pointer and Korea trailed 20-21 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Ragan-ah hit back-to-back three-pointers to change the momentum. By the middle of the second quarter, Ragan-ah had scored 16 points, including three three-pointers, to give Korea a 33-27 lead. Byun Jun-hyung also came alive, and Korea took a 48-40 halftime lead.
South Korea would not let their guard down. Korea went on a three-point run in the first five minutes of the third quarter, giving up 10 points. It was quickly down to one point, 51-50. An overexcited Ragan fouled for nothing. South Korea was down 58-64 late in the third quarter.
Korea was unable to stop Iranian center Mehsam, who stands at 204 cm and is a big man. Byun Jun-hyung scored to close the gap, but they kept losing to Meisam, who had already recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds early in the fourth quarter. Unable to stop Iran’s outside shooting, South Korea trailed by 12 points, 69-81, with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Coach Chu Il-seung sent in Jeon Sung-hyun to try to make a comeback, but his 3-pointer missed. Heo Hoon hit a three-pointer to make it 74-81. The stifling defense had no answer. Trailing by nine points with just over four minutes to go, Chu called timeout again. But nothing changed. Heo Hoon’s airball gave them the offense.
Byun Jun-hyung got two free throws at the crucial moment, but missed one. Lee Woo-seok was called for an offensive foul on the fast break. After missing Byun Jun-hyung’s pass, Ragan-ah hit the basket with his fist. With three minutes left in the game, the score was back to 10 points.카지노사이트
Heo Hoon made up two points with a floater. At a crucial moment, Ha Yun-ki injured his right ankle and had to be replaced. Iran capitalized on the Korean mistake with two fast break points. Ten points with one minute left. The players’ expressions were not good as they realized the defeat. Jeon Sung-hyun hit a late three-pointer, but there was too little time.
In the end, Korea was unable to make a last-minute push and fell to its knees in a stunning upset. Ragan led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Heo Hoon added 18 points and eight assists. But the personal records meant nothing in the face of one of the worst performances in the history of Korean basketball. There is no end in sight for the Korean basketball team.