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The unstoppable South Korean women's basketball national team has advanced to the final by defeating China, led by 2-meter-26-centimeter "human Great Wall" Zhang Ziyu. Tonight, September 26, they will face Japan as they aim for their first combined men's and women's championship in 12 years.
Reporter Kim Hyeong-yeol has the details.
[Reporter]
Even among a Chinese squad with an average height of 188 centimeters, Zhang Ziyu towered more than a head taller at 2 meters and 26 centimeters, displaying overwhelming dominance under the basket.
Even when Jin An and Lee Hae-ran, both standing at 182 centimeters, teamed up to block her, Zhang grabbed the ball above their heads and easily scored.
[Push her out!]
Efforts to push her out from under the basket fell short in strength, resulting in conceded inside shots. Despite desperate defense, South Korea allowed both field goals and additional free throws.
Even when outmatched in height, the Korean squad refused to give up.
Heo Ye-eun and Lee So-hee struck successive three-pointers, while Lee Hae-ran utilized her quick speed to draw fouls from Zhang and penetrate the paint.
As Zhang increasingly showed signs of fatigue, team captain Kang Lee-seul's scoring ignited in the middle of the fourth quarter while trailing 69-62.
Following consecutive three-pointers and an inside drive, she scored eight straight points to lead a 70-69 turnaround.
Gaining momentum, the national team saw Choi I-sam, Lee Hae-ran, and Lee So-hee successively hit perimeter shots, and calmly sank free throws despite the opponent's late-game fouling strategy.
When the final buzzer sounded to announce the 85-80 victory, the players all ran onto the court to embrace and share their joy.
Even without injured ace Park Ji-su and Park Ji-hyun, who advanced to the U.S. stage, the team snapped a six-game losing streak against world No. 7 China, writing history by reaching the men's and women's joint finals for the first time in 12 years.
[Kang Lee-seul / Women's Basketball National Team Captain: It still doesn't feel real that we beat China, and I am just so happy.]
[Lee So-hee / Women's Basketball National Team Player: Powered by your support, we really want to win the gold medal in the final and bring it back home.]
Pulling off a major upset with tenacious defense and high-accuracy perimeter shots, the national team will challenge host nation Japan for the combined men's and women's gold medals after a 12-year hiatus.
(Video Editing: Lee Seung-hee, Design: Kim Han-gil)
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