Nagoya, Japan, September 21, 2026: “Our understanding on the court was really poor in the first game because we haven’t been playing together for very long,” said team member Binderiya Sandagdorj. “Right after it finished, we sat down as a team and mapped out exactly how we needed to play.”
That quick post-game huddle produced immediate results for Mongolia’s men’s 3x3 basketball team at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Monday. After dropping their Pool A opener 19–12 to the Philippines, Mongolia returned an hour later and earned a 13–8 victory over Kazakhstan.
Faced with a short turnaround between matches, the squad focused on fixing their defensive structure.
“We agreed that we needed to play calmer, yet faster,” Binderiya explained. “The main reason we lost against the Philippines was that we simply didn't defend well. So, for the second game, focusing on our defense was the main priority.”
The adjustment worked. Mongolia contained Kazakhstan's offense, holding them to just eight points over 10 minutes.
With a 1–1 record in Pool A, Mongolia controls its standing entering the final group match against Sri Lanka, who drop into an elimination spot after consecutive losses to Kazakhstan and the Philippines.
Mongolia has already scouted Sri Lanka during their earlier match against Kazakhstan.
“We watched the match between Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka,” Binderiya said. “Against Sri Lanka, just like against Kazakhstan, we plan to stay composed while utilizing our advantages.”
