The Korean men's basketball team won a refreshing comeback victory with Choi Jun-yong, who was once led by 12 points to the Philippines and drove 12 points in the third quarter.
Korea, led by coach Il-seung Choo, defeated the Philippines 96-92 in the first match of the KB Kookmin Bank invitational men's basketball national team evaluation held today (17th) at Anyang Gymnasium in Gyeonggi-do.
South Korea, ranked 30th in the FIBA world ranking, and the Philippines, ranked 34th, are competing against each other in preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia in July.
The two countries will play the second leg at the same place tomorrow evening at 7pm.
Coach Il-seung Choo, who took over the national team last month, decorated his first official match with a thrilling come-back victory.
In addition, South Korea insulted the FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers for the second consecutive time in June last year with an away trip to the Philippines.
South Korea, who led the first quarter 16-14, threw 13 3-pointers in the first half and was dragged 34-43 to the outskirts, suffering only one.
Heo Woong's 3-point shot with 11 seconds left in the first half was Korea's first 3-point shot.
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Korea, which was led by 31-43, 12 points until the end of the first half, turned the tide in the third quarter with attacks from Choi Jun-yong and Heo Hoon.
Korea, who had been behind 45 to 55, caught up 55 to 51 with Laguna and Heo Hoon's three consecutive points in the middle of the third quarter, followed by Heo Hoon's breakthrough and an additional free throw. Made a point tea.
The Philippines fled 58-54 with Dwight Ramos' 3-point shot, but from then on, the fingertips of Choi Jun-yong, the best player in the domestic professional basketball regular league for the 2021-2022 season, spit out.
Choi Jun-yong made three 3-point shots in a row, leading Korea to 63-58 at once, and then succeeded in a quick attack, making it 65-58.
1 minute 25 seconds before the end of the 3rd quarter leading 68-60, Yeo Jun-seok caught Choi Jun-yong's pass in the air and made a dunk shot, and cheers from fans filled the gym.
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In the 4th quarter, Yeo Jun-seok's 'One Man Show' was held.
Yeo Jun-seok fired two 3-pointers in a row at the beginning of the 4th quarter, and succeeded in an additional free throw following the breakthrough, widening the gap to 83:66 with 6 minutes and 49 seconds remaining.
In the match where Korea was once leading by 17 points, the Philippines caught up to 87-82 with Ramos' 3-point play 1 minute and 49 seconds before the end of the game, but Heo Woong responded with 3 points in the attack and kept the victory.
(Photo = Yonhap News)