South Korean basketball star Lee Hae-ran added a Filipino connection to South Korea’s latest Asian Games triumph, with her mother Arlene originally from the Philippines.
Lee, 23, played a starring role as South Korea captured the women’s basketball gold medal in Aichi-Nagoya, beating host Japan, 75-70, in the championship game.
The Samsung Life Blue Minx forward led all scorers with 24 points and also grabbed nine rebounds as South Korea secured its first Asian Games women’s basketball title since 2014.
While Lee represents South Korea internationally and was raised in Seoul, her Filipino heritage comes through her mother, who is originally from the Philippines.
According to reports, Lee’s mother has roots connected to Mindanao and the Pampanga side of the Philippines.
Her Filipino connection has also drawn attention from basketball fans in the country, particularly after Lee and her mother recently traveled to the Philippines for the first time.
Lee’s performance in the Asian Games final gave her another major achievement in a growing basketball career, while her Filipino lineage provided an additional connection for supporters following South Korea’s gold-medal campaign.
For Filipino fans, Lee’s story offered a familiar link to the Korean team’s championship run: a South Korean star raised in Seoul, but with part of her family history rooted in the Philippines. (Adrian Co)
