[2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games] South Korea Men's Basketball Crushes Japan 100-83 in Korea-Japan Match, MBC Records 1st Place with 2.0% Ratings

MBC [2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games] South Korea men's basketball crushes Japan 100-83.. 3 consecutive wins + 1st in group to head to the tournament with good vibes! MBC metropolitan area X 2054 viewership 1st place!

- MBC ranks 1st in viewership with 2.0% in the metropolitan area and 0.8% for 2054! - Commentator Ha Seung-Jin: “If South Korea wins, I don't mind if my whole body gets muscle knots!” Caster Ko Kang Yong: “The promised 3rd quarter arrives again today without fail!” The chemistry of the MBC broadcasting team also shone! - MBC ranked 1st in both metropolitan and national viewership for the Saudi Arabia match held on the 10th.

MBC recorded the highest viewership for the South Korea-Japan men's basketball match, which was considered the biggest match before the start of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

According to data collected by the viewership research agency Nielsen on the 14th, MBC recorded 2.0% viewership (based on metropolitan households) and 0.8% (for the 2054 demographic) in the 'Men's Basketball Group A Final Match' held on the 13th, featuring caster Ko Kang Yong and commentator Ha Seung-Jin, ranking 1st in viewership.

Additionally, the viewership for the men's basketball Group A match between South Korea and Saudi Arabia held on the 10th also ranked 1st in both the metropolitan (0.7%) and national (0.6%) sectors.

In the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, South Korea defeated their perennial rival Japan to take 1st place in Group A. MBC commentator Ha Seung-Jin and caster Ko Kang Yong, who broadcasted the match, vividly conveyed the emotion of the decisive victory over Japan with fantastic broadcasting chemistry.

On this day, South Korea recorded 100 points against their rival Japan, securing a pleasant decisive victory and advancing to the tournament as the leader of Group A. The match began with a tight contest from the early stages. While South Korea took the initiative in the early offense to seize the momentum, Japan also responded with significant strength. However, the turning point was undoubtedly the 'promised 3rd quarter.' Lee Jung Hyun exploded with consecutive scores to flip the momentum, and Jang Jae-Seok, Lee Hyun-Jung, and Byeon Jun-Young added to the strength, with the entire team performing evenly well. They maintained their offensive concentration in the 4th quarter to widen the gap with Japan, finishing the match with a satisfying 17-point victory.

MBC commentator Ha Seung-Jin and caster Ko Kang Yong increased viewer immersion by analyzing the South Korean players' performances in real-time amidst the heated atmosphere of the Korea-Japan match. Before the match, commentator Ha Seung-Jin expressed his desperation for victory, boosting the heat even before the start by saying, “If South Korea can win, I don't mind if my whole body gets muscle knots.”

Along with this, sincere affection for the players could be seen. Regarding Lee Hyun-Jung, he evaluated him as "the ace leading South Korea no matter what anyone says," and did not hold back praise for Eddie Danielle's performance, saying, "Despite his small stature, his sense is extraordinary." When caster Ko Kang Yong remarked, "Basketball isn't played with height alone," commentator Ha Seung-Jin responded with perfect chemistry, saying, "It is also played with a hot heart."

As South Korea regained the lead in the 3rd quarter, caster Ko Kang Yong shouted, "The promised 3rd quarter, South Korea's 3rd quarter is unfolding again today," and commentator Ha Seung-Jin continued to marvel at the players' performances. Toward Byeon Jun-Young, who took the momentum with consecutive scores, he offered encouragement, saying, "He is washing away all the sorrows of the past. He is so admirable and great," and for Lee Jung Hyun, who showed strong sides in every Japan match, he marveled, saying, "He has become a player that cannot be stopped even if they know."

Above all, seeing them press Japan with unwavering mental strength even while leading in points toward the end of the match, commentator Ha Seung-Jin praised, "The scary thing about South Korea is that not only Lee Hyun-Jung, but anyone could perform unexpectedly," adding, "They are players with great mental strength as well as skill." Caster Ko Kang Yong also gave a summary, saying, "Every player did their part and they found South Korean basketball perfectly," and gave a warm round of applause to the South Korean national team for achieving 1st place in the group.

Meanwhile, MBC plans to live broadcast the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games men's football qualifying match between South Korea and Qatar from 6:40 PM on Tuesday the 15th, with commentary by Ahn Jung-hwan, commentator Seo Hyung-Wook, and caster Kim Sung-joo.

◆ At a Glance

· Issuing Organization: MBC

· Category: 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

· Distribution: September 14, 08:00

Source: MBC Press Release

Special Times is striving to deliver faster and more diverse news to readers with the help of AI technology.