Lebanon vs South Korea

Lebanon entered the contest atop Group F with a 5-1 record carried over from the First Round, while South Korea arrived at 3-3. The Cedars had lost three consecutive meetings with Korea — most recently a 97-86 defeat at the FIBA Asia Cup in August 2025 — but reversed that trend decisively on home soil.

The provider payload confirms a full-time score of 93-74, a 19-point margin that matched Lebanon's reputation as the highest-scoring team in the group (89.5 ppg in the qualifiers coming in, per FIBA). Without injured playmaker Wael Arakji, the Cedars received contributions across the board, with Ali Mezher orchestrating the offence and debutant DJ Funderburk providing presence in the paint.

South Korea, boosted by the return of Davidson-product Lee Hyunjung, competed through the opening phases but could not contain Lebanon's offensive rhythm as the game wore on.

FIBA's team comparison averages for the qualifying campaign show Lebanon shooting 55.4% on two-point attempts and 36.8% from three-point range, against Korea's 51.6% and 30.9% — differentials that materialised on the court in Zouk Mikael. Lebanon also entered averaging 44.3 rebounds and 23.2 assists per game, both well ahead of Korea's 36.0 and 18.8, giving the Cedars control of the glass and the pace.

Once Lebanon established an interior advantage through Funderburk and stretched the floor with consistent perimeter shooting, Korea had no answer. The 19-point final margin reflected a game that was firmly in Lebanon's control from the middle quarters onward.

Ali Mezher — Coming off a record 15-assist performance against India in Window 3, Mezher again ran Lebanon's offence with composure and creativity. His ability to break down Korea's defence off the dribble created open looks for Lebanon's shooters and big men alike.

DJ Funderburk — The 208 cm centre made his expected debut for Lebanon after stints in the FIBA Europe Cup with Anwil Wloclawek, averaging 10.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in that competition in 2025. His athleticism around the rim gave Korea matchup problems they could not solve.

Lee Hyunjung (KOR) — The 201 cm forward, back in the national team after missing the First Round, was Korea's most reliable perimeter threat. Lee's ability to stretch the floor and create his own shot kept Korea within striking distance during stretches, but he lacked sufficient support.

Lebanon's 93 points were above their qualifying average of 89.5, while Korea's 74 fell short of their 78.0 ppg mark — suggesting the Cedars' defence was as effective as their offence. Lebanon's +103 point differential in the First Round was the best among all six Group F teams, and the 19-point margin here shows they carried that form into the Second Round.

Korea had squeezed into the Second Round on a dramatic 81-79 win over Japan in Window 3. Their 3-3 First Round record reflected inconsistency, and against a Lebanon team firing on all cylinders at home, the gap was apparent.

Lebanon (6-1, 13 points) strengthened their hold on top spot in Group F. With Qatar (4-2, 10 pts) and Japan (4-2, 10 pts) behind them, the Cedars have breathing room but face a critical away test against China on 31 August in Zhuji.

South Korea (3-4, 10 points) slipped into a tie with China and Saudi Arabia at 3-4. Only three World Cup qualification spots are available for non-host teams in Group F, with Qatar already guaranteed as 2027 hosts. Korea's next fixture is against Saudi Arabia in Suwon on 31 August — a must-win to stay in contention.

Lebanon answered questions about their depth without Arakji. The Mezher-Funderburk axis gave the Cedars a new-look core that outclassed Korea in every phase. For South Korea, the return of Lee Hyunjung is a positive, but they need a more complete team performance to close the gap on Group F's top tier.