[Asian Games] Women's Basketball Final Bid Thwarted... 58-81 Defeat to Japan with '3-Point and Press Defense'

Allowed 14 Three-Point Shots by Japan... Turnovers Under Pressing Defense
Park Jisoo Scores 18 Points... Bronze Medal Match Against North Korea on the 5th

Korean women's basketball failed to advance to the Asian Games finals for the fourth consecutive time.

Led by head coach Jeong Seon-min, the Korean women's basketball team lost 58-81 to Japan in the semifinals of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held on the 2nd at the Shaoxing Olympic Sports Center in Zhejiang Province, China.

Players of the South Korean women's basketball team are disappointed after losing 58-81 to Japan in the women's basketball semifinals at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in Zhejiang Province, China, on the 3rd during the Hangzhou Asian Games.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Park Ji-su (18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists), Park Ji-hyun (13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists), and Kim Dan-bi (11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) fought hard, but due to turnovers caused by Japan's strong press defense, the offense was not smooth. Additionally, allowing a barrage of three-pointers from Japan, Korea never gained the upper hand throughout the game and ultimately gave up the ticket to the finals.

Japan attempted 32 three-pointers and made 14, with a success rate of 44%. In contrast, Korea only attempted 15 shots from beyond the arc and made just 3, resulting in a 20% success rate. With Japan's strong press defense limiting their offense and their outside shooting also blocked, Korea struggled to find a breakthrough. Struggling against Japan's intense defense, Korea committed 14 turnovers, twice as many as Japan.

The early flow was not good. Korea's first attack, driven by Park Ji-hyun's penetration, failed. Japan took control early by scoring 7 consecutive points through inside baskets, outside shots, and free throws earned from fouls. Korea scored their first points after about 2 minutes into the game with a mid-range shot by Kim Dan-bi.

Struggling against Japan's strong press defense, Korea committed 3 turnovers within the first 3 minutes, repeatedly breaking their offensive rhythm. However, Japan also struggled with shooting accuracy early on and did not pull away easily.

In the middle of the first quarter, Park Ji-su boosted momentum by scoring inside despite tight defense and making an additional free throw. With about 1 minute left, Korea narrowed the gap to 2 points. However, the finish was poor. Allowing a three-pointer and consecutive turnovers, Korea ended the first quarter trailing 15-20.

At the start of the second quarter, Japan hit a three-pointer, beginning to widen the score gap. Korea continued to commit turnovers during their offensive plays, and Japan's outside shooting caught fire, quickly extending the lead to 15-31 early in the second quarter.

Korea scored their first points in nearly 4 minutes of the second quarter. Park Ji-su earned a foul inside and made both free throws. Then, following Park Ji-su's kick-out pass, Kang Yi-seul hit a three-pointer, and Park Ji-su made a mid-range shot off a pass from Park Ji-hyun, tightening the chase. With about 2 minutes left in the second quarter, Park Ji-su scored inside on a drive and earned a free throw. Although she missed the additional free throw, Park Ji-hyun's three-pointer off the offensive rebound brought the score to 29-38. In the following possession, a brilliant passing play involving Ahn Hye-ji, Park Ji-su, and Kim Dan-bi narrowed the gap to 7 points. The second quarter ended 33-40.

Park Ji-su of the South Korean women's basketball team is attempting an attack by breaking through the opponent's defense during the women's basketball semifinal match between South Korea and Japan at the Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, on the 3rd.
Photo by Yonhap News

Korea scored the first points of the third quarter, reducing the gap to 5 points. But that was as close as they got. Japan responded with consecutive three-pointers, pushing the lead back into double digits. By mid-third quarter, the score gap widened to 35-50. Korea then began a chase with points from drives by Park Ji-hyun, Ahn Hye-ji, and Lee Hae-ran. At one point, the gap was narrowed to 9 points, but Japan answered again with a three-pointer, ending the third quarter at 44-56.

The flow did not change in the fourth quarter. Japan gradually extended the lead with three-pointers. With about 4 minutes remaining, the gap exceeded 20 points, and the game concluded.

Jeong Seon-min's team will play the bronze medal match against North Korea, who suffered a heavy 44-100 defeat to China, on the 5th at 5 p.m.