S. Korea U-18 Men's Basketball Team Loses to New Zealand, Finishes 4th at Asian Cup

South Korea's under-18 men's national basketball team finished fourth at the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup after losing to New Zealand in the third-place playoff.

Led by head coach Shin Jong-seok, the U-18 national team was defeated 102-97 by New Zealand in the third-place match of the 2026 FIBA U-18 Asia Cup held in Ahmedabad, India.

Having dropped to the third-place playoff following a 111-74 defeat against Australia in the semifinals the previous day, South Korea wrapped up the tournament in fourth place after falling to New Zealand as well.

Having secured a berth in next year's FIBA U-19 World Cup in the Czech Republic by reaching the semifinals of this tournament, South Korea sought its first podium finish in four years since winning the championship in 2022, but the bid fell short.

Tied 49-49 with New Zealand at halftime in a closely contested match, South Korea held a narrow 72-70 lead after the third quarter, but relinquished the lead in the fourth quarter.

Yoon Ji-won put on a strong performance with 29 points, including four three-pointers, and 6 rebounds, while Yoon Ji-won's twin brother Yoon Ji-hoon fought hard by recording a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists.

In the tournament's final that followed, Australia defeated China 89-79 to capture its second consecutive title following 2024.
(Photo: Captured from the FIBA website, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.