Qatar Falls to South Korea in 2025 FIBA Asia Cup

The Qatar national basketball team suffered a 97-83 defeat against South Korea in an intense and thrilling match held at King Abdullah Sports City Arena (“The Jewel”) in Jeddah, as part of the second round of Group A in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. The tournament, organized by FIBA Asia, runs from August 5 to 17 in Saudi Arabia and features 16 Asian national teams.

The match was attended by Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, and Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary-General of the Federation, National Teams Director, and Head of the Qatar delegation, reflecting the Federation’s unwavering support for the national team in its continental journey.

The game began with both teams displaying competitive spirit, with South Korea edging out a 25-22 lead in the first quarter. The second quarter saw South Korea dominate, outscoring Qatar 28-16 to end the first half with a 15-point advantage. In the second half, Qatar showed resilience, winning the third quarter 23-22 and tying the fourth quarter at 22-22. However, South Korea’s significant lead from the first half proved decisive in securing their victory.

Individually, Qatar’s American professional Brandon Goodwin shone with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Abdulrahman Saad delivered a notable performance with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Zainuddin Badri contributed 14 points, and Alen Hadzibegovic showcased strong defensive play with 9 points and 7 rebounds.

For South Korea, Hyeonjung Lee led the way with 24 points at an impressive 63.64% shooting accuracy, alongside 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Kisang Yoo matched Lee’s 24 points, with a 58.33% free-throw rate and 7 rebounds, while Jun Seok Yoo added 22 points, shooting 63.64% from the field and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line.

Statistics revealed Qatar maintained a 46.88% field goal percentage, with 51.11% on two-point shots and 36.84% on three-pointers. However, a 59.26% free-throw rate, 25 personal fouls, and 17 turnovers significantly impacted their chances of a comeback.
With this win, South Korea boosted their Group A tally to 3 points, while Qatar remains at 2 points following consecutive losses to Lebanon and South Korea.

Qatar now prepares for a crucial match against Australia at 11:00 AM on Sunday, August 10, 2025, a pivotal opportunity to regroup and advance toward the knockout stages.

The team is led by Turkish head coach Hakan Demir, who, alongside assistants Cengiz Karadag, Abdu Su, Atilla Yapicier, and Mohammed Fural, is focused on strengthening defensive strategies, reducing errors, and enhancing offensive efficiency. The administrative team includes Jassim Ibrahim Ashkanani as team manager and Nabil Juma as assistant manager, with medical support provided by Dr. Adel Saleem, Dr. Adel Hormia, and physiotherapist Nikasio Sagayno.

Qatar’s 12-player roster includes Brandon Goodwin, Alen Hadzibegovic, Seydou Ndiaye, Zainuddin Badri, Tyler Harris, Aladji Magassa, Omar Saad, Mustafa Ndao, Mohammed Bashir, Babacar Dieng, Abdulrahman Saad, and Mahmoud Darwish.