SEOUL (Korea) - Korea can head straight into the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers' Second Round as early as their first game of the fast-approaching Window 2 against Chinese Taipei in New Taipei City.
How can Korea qualify?
The traditional East Asian force only needs to win against one of their older regional rivals to accomplish as much, which if they do would also enable themselves to stay atop the Group B standings with a pristine record.
Lee Hyunjung & Co. went perfect last window by scoring back-to-back wins against China, marking the first time ever that the program did so against the continental power.
That's the position they're in entering the Window 2 games, although this team is being quite surrounded by intrigue after pulling off a major move just last December - shortly after that big Window 1 showing.
New chief in town
Korea have appointed Latvian Nikolajs Mazurs as their new head coach, taking over veteran mentor Chun Heechul to mark the very first time in the country's men's basketball program ever that a foreigner would man the helm.
In one week, you can't make a team. But if there is this kind of patience and consistency, then we can build something big.
The 45-year-old brings with him nearly two decades of experience, having led Latvian youth teams which included being the chief shot-caller of the squad that played in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2021.
Also seasoned in the club scene, he's now tasked to lead a Korean team that's hoping to re-establish itself in the global stage, with their sights set not only on the World Cup but in the next Olympics as well.
"They want to go, step by step, up. Of course, it's not quick. In one week, you can't make a team. But if there is this kind of patience and consistency, then we can build something big," Mazurs told KBS' Korea24.
Head-to-head record
He's going to receive a baptism of fire in his first game as Korea's new coach, keen of course on helping his new team hit the aforementioned target - and in keeping their mastery of Chinese Taipei.
They have won 10 of their 12 meetings against the said team in the Asia Cup, the most recent of which an 87-73 result during the 2022 edition of the competition in Indonesia.
Their upcoming battle would be the first time that these two proud programs would cross paths in the World Cup Qualifiers.
That, of course, makes it all the more interesting, knowing as well how important the match is for both - one is hoping to reach the Second Round early while the other is a tad desperate to nail that first win.
Year | Competition | Winning team | Final score |
2022 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 87-73 |
2013 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 75-57 |
2011 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 82-61 |
2009 | FIBA Asia Cup | Chinese Taipei | 70-65 |
2009 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 72-70 |
2007 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 85-70 |
1999 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 61-54 |
1997 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 96-71 |
1995 | FIBA Asia Cup | Chinese Taipei | 63-62 |
1989 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 112-91 |
1987 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 98-81 |
1986 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 89-80 |
Who are in?
Chinese Taipei put together a pool filled with their old reliables, led by Brandon Gilbeck and other seasoned internationalists such as Ray Chen, Benson Lin, and Riven Ma, to name a few.
They will be taking on a Korea side led by Lee and other key cogs like Yu Kisang and Lee Junghyun, and this team only has one thing in their minds - to win Thursday's affair even while on the road, simple as that.
But many will be waiting for the looming face-off between Lee and Lin, which could rekindle a rivalry that traces back all the way to the FIBA U16 Asia Cup in 2015 in Indonesia.
FIBA