South Korea beat Saudi Arabia 82-66 in their Asian Games meeting on Thursday evening. The hosts kept their unbeaten record intact with the victory at home. Both sides sit level in the standings after three games each.
The two teams share second place in the table, each with two wins and one loss. They've played identical records so far, and this result keeps them neck and neck. By then the gap had narrowed to a single game between them.
They met just over a week ago on August 31, when South Korea won 85-72. This time around the margin was wider, and the hosts didn't let up. And here's the thing about back-to-back meetings — momentum matters more than form at this stage.
We had tipped the home side to win beforehand, with 65 percent confidence. The prediction came good, though the scoreline was a touch sharper than expected. To be fair, Saudi Arabia gave away too many cheap fouls and paid for a sloppy opening.
South Korea's recent run includes wins over China and Saudi Arabia, but they've also suffered heavy defeats against Japan. Saudi Arabia's form has been equally patchy, with losses to Japan and Qatar standing out. Things came to a head in this one, and the hosts felt the pressure without crumbling.
The win moves South Korea closer to a semi-final spot, while Saudi Arabia must regroup quickly. They've still got games to play, but the cushion is shrinking. The table says nothing definitive yet, but the pattern is becoming clear.