- 10
- Aug.
- 2025
Under a rain of three-pointers, the Cedars fell to the Koreans. Despite flashes of offensive brilliance, the defense gave way. Next up: Japan, with the urgent need to raise their game.
In Jeddah on Sunday night, Lebanon ran into a Korean side in peak shooting form from beyond the arc. Yu Kisang, 24 years old and playing in his first Asian Cup, delivered his breakout performance: 28 points, including an impressive 8-of-12 from three-point range.
The Barrage from the East
Right from the first quarter, the Koreans piled on three-pointers (8 made) to open up a wide lead (26-12).
By halftime, the damage was already heavy: 13 long-range shots conceded. The end of the game confirmed the defensive collapse, with a tournament record of 22 made threes — erasing the previous mark set by Japan against Guam earlier in the day.
The Cedars Tried to Fight Back
The Lebanese offense, at times, showed it could fight back. Omar Jamaleddine (15 points, 6 rebounds) repeatedly drove hard to the basket. Ali Haidar (14 points, 7 rebounds) fought like a lion under the rim. Sergio el-Darwich (13 points) found gaps, while Ali Mansour (12 points) and Amir Saoud (10 points) added a shooting touch.
But scoring droughts — especially in transition defense and closing out on shooters — proved costly. Against a team on fire, even a few offensive runs weren’t enough to close the gap.
The Group of Death
“We survived the group of death,” said Korean coach Ahn Joonho, proud of his team despite the absence of two key players. Meanwhile, Lebanon suffered its third consecutive FIBA loss to Korea, with the head-to-head now tipping 7-6 in favor of the Asians.
Against Japan, Lebanon will need to be a completely different team — ironclad defense, maximum intensity and zero tolerance for being on the back foot. This is not just a must-win game, it’s a statement to be made.
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