|
Yao, China advance
看看AP的報道:
SAPPORO, Japan (AP) -- Yao Ming scored 36 points and Wang Shipeng made a 3-pointer as time expired to give China a 78-77 victory over Slovenia on Thursday, a win that helped send the Chinese to the second round of the basketball world championship.
The Chinese (2-3) won their final two Group D games to tie Slovenia and Puerto Rico for third place. Slovenia and China earned the group's final two spots in Saitama, with both having better point differentials than the Puerto Ricans, who were eliminated.
"We will fight again," China coach Jonas Kazlauskas said.
Sani Becirovic scored 20 points for Slovenia, which would have clinched a berth in the second round in its world championships debut, but instead was forced to wait for Puerto Rico's 73-72 loss to Italy. A Puerto Rican victory would have eliminated the Slovenians, who instead finished third with a slightly better point differential than the Chinese.
With four NBA players on its roster, Slovenia (2-3) was thought to be the second-best team behind the United States in Group D. But the Slovenians blew double-digit leads in two of their losses -- including a 14-point lead in this one.
Yao, leading the tournament with 28.4 points per game, scored 21 in the second half. Playing all 40 minutes after a recent four-month absence with a broken foot, he was 13-of-21 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds, while dominating fellow NBA centers Rasho Nesterovic and Primoz Brezec.
"Maybe only he can do those things," Kazlauskas said.
Slovenia led 74-70 after Becirovic banked in a jumper with 1:17 to play, but Yao's basket with 30 seconds to play tied it at 75. Uros Slokar scored inside with 6 seconds to go for Slovenia, and China quickly rushed the ball up the court. Wang made his shot from the left side for his only basket of the game, then was mobbed by his teammates.
"I only had 5.8 seconds," Wang said through a translator. "How much could I think about? All I can do is dribble to the frontcourt and take the shot."
Du Feng scored 11 points and Wang Zhizhi had 10 for China. Slokar had 15 for the Slovenians and Primoz Brezec finished with 14 while shooting 6-of-6.
China was within three points a minute into the second quarter before Becirovic opened and closed an 11-0 burst with 3-pointers to give the Slovenians a 33-19 lead. They were ahead 46-38 at halftime.
But Slovenia had only one field goal in the first 51/2 minutes of the third quarter, and by then China had battled back to grab a 49-48 lead after Yao converted a three-point play. Beno Udrih's 3 with 1.8 seconds left send the Slovenians to the final period with a 59-57 lead. |
|