JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Yu Kisang inflicted major damage to Lebanon to star in Korea's upset of the West Asian contenders in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Group Phase on Sunday night and that didn't happen by chance.
One of the tournament's first-timers actually grew familiar with some of the Cedars and their tendencies on the floor, and that's huge thanks to his stint in the recent Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia).
"We played against some of the players of the Lebanese team in the BCL Asia," he said after their 97-86 win at the King Abdullah Sports City. "So, I was able to give some tips to the team about the players that I faced."
The 24-year-old was part of the Changwon LG team that competed in Asia's highest club competition last June in Dubai. They were drawn in Group C with the P. LEAGUE+ side Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and, yes, Al Riyadi.
Coming off a successful FIBA WASL title defense, the Lebanese powerhouse came in as the reigning BCL Asia champions, and went on to sweep their way to the Final Phase before settling for a runner-up finish.
I grew up watching the Asia Cup and wished I could play in the competition. Finally I am here, and it is an honor for me to compete here.
Their very first game of the tournament was actually against the Sakers, which they won in convincing fashion, 106-73, with star guard Wael Arakji and Thon Maker showing the way by finishing with 24 points apiece.
Also contributing significantly in that rout of the 2024-25 Korean Basketball League champions were the tried and tested troika of Karim Zeinoun, Ali Mansour, and Hayk Gyokchyan as they added at least 6 points apiece.
Changwon eventually bowed out of the competition after bowing in both of their assignments and as tough as it was for Yu, being part of an event as prestigious as the BCL Asia is an honor for him nonetheless.
"I learned a lot from BCL, which is a great asset to my life as a basketball player," he expressed.
Well he did learn, so much so that he made good use of those lessons months later when the Koreans and the Cedars crossed paths in the preliminary rounds of the continent's biggest basketball event.
Much of the attention was on the 2022 runners-up on how they can bounce back after losing big to Australia in their previous meeting, but the East Asian crew flipped the script and grabbed the headlines instead.
And Yu himself was among those who shone the brightest. He delivered 28 points behind an excellent 8-of-12 shooting from the outside, as he helped spark the early breakaway through his outside shooting.
By nailing that many treys, he eclipsed the previous mark for most threes made in a game in this year's tilt, which was set by himself as well - he sank seven in their 97-83 victory against Qatar where he had 24 points.
"Due to the great play of our team mates, I was able to make the three-point shots. With them, my role is just to shoot the three with confidence," said Yu, who shot 10-of-16 from the floor and also had 3 steals.
"And, even though we got two players injured, we tried to focus on what we are good at and play harder," he added as the group only played with 10 men, with Yeo Junseok and Lee Junghyun sidelined due to injuries.
Korea, as a collective, nailed 22 triples, the most by a team in the ongoing Jeddah games. That kind of accuracy from beyond the arc proved too much for the Lebanese as they struggled to cover as much on defense.
The team has long been known as one of Asia's best shooters and definitely, they'd bank on it once again in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals versus Guam, with Yu himself seen to help lead the way once more.
Sure, it's only his first Asia Cup appearance but there's zero pressure on his part, all because he's been dreaming of being in this stage since he was young. Now he's here, and he simply wants to make the most of it.
"I grew up watching the Asia Cup and wished I could play in the competition," said Yu, who played in a pair of matches in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers to mark his men's team debut and normed 9.5 points.
"Finally I am here," he added, "and it is an honor for me to compete here."
FIBA