"I threw it with the thought of putting in only one. It was such a thrilling victory."

"I threw it with the thought of putting in only one. It was such a thrilling victory."

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Ha Yoon-ki of the Korean men's basketball team played 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block shot in the 2024 Soft Bank Cup against Japan held at Ariake Arena in Koto Ward, Tokyo on Sunday. Led by Lee Jung-hyun (27 points, four rebounds, four assists), Korea defeated Japan in the fourth quarter to win 85-84.

After the game, Ha Yoon-ki said in a phone call with this newspaper, "I didn't lose because my teammates helped me a lot in the rebound fight in the beginning. I was able to play a good game because I was able to bring the mood well. In particular, (Lee) Woo-seok gave me a good pass. Thanks to Woo-seok's pass, it worked out well for me, too. Everyone was in a physically difficult situation in the fourth quarter, but I played hard with the determination to win led to my victory."

This year's national team played for the first time without Ra Gun-ah, who had been solid at the bottom of the basket for the past six years. Ha had no choice but to feel pressured. He blocked Josh Hawkinson, a naturalized Japanese player, and scored a point under the basket. At the end of the third quarter, he dunked with a two-hand dunk, drawing attention.

"(D) Gun-ah hyung had no opponent under the basket, so it was very comfortable when he played with him. I was under a lot of pressure to enter Gun-ah's seat now. I couldn't fill the vacancy on my own, but I was able to endure because (Yang) Jae-min or my colleagues helped me." Ha Yoon-ki said.

Regarding the two-hand dunk at the end of the third quarter, he said, "I managed to dunk in a very chaotic situation. It was like a dream. I felt great when there were so many spectators in Japan. I think it was a dunk shot that brought the mood."

Korea ended the third quarter with a 20-point lead (72-52) but struggled due to Japan's strong counterattack led by Yuki Kawamura in the fourth quarter. The team allowed its team to come from behind at the end of the game, but Lee Jung-hyun's mid-range shot tied the score at 84-84. Ha then garnered two free throws with 0.9 seconds left, and made one pitch before purposely failing to make the second pitch to secure a thrilling victory.

Ha said, "It was a tie, and I only had 0.9 seconds left. Personally, I thought I had two chances. I threw the first ball comfortably, but it went in. At that moment, I felt relieved that I won. I didn't put the second ball in on purpose because the opponent team had operation time left. It was such a thrilling victory." 동행복권파워볼

South Korea, which won the first round against everyone's expectations, will face off once more at the same place on the 7th. If they show the same concentration as in the first game, they are expected to be able to aim for victory.

Ha Yoon-ki said, "I had a very hard time winning today (May 5) as well. I will not settle for victory and do my best to win the second game as well. I will support my teammates and try to do bad things under the basket."