The national basketball team has returned home after winning the 2009 East Asia Basketball Championship (EABC) title.

The men’s team, led by Coach Hur Jae, beat all its opponents and grabbed the top spot during the championship, held from Thursday to Sunday in Komaki, Japan.

Team Korea beat China on Thursday and Hong Kong on Friday to advance into the semifinals. It beat out Taiwan, advancing to the finals, and won the final game against Japan for the championship title. It also got the ticket to the Asian Championship games, slated for August in Tianjin, China.

Arriving at the Incheon International Airport, Coach Hur told reporters that the victory was possible thanks to the team’s strong defense and high morale, despite its short practice period and the absence of players Kim Joo-seung and Ha Seung-jin due to injuries.