Basketball: Chinese Women Win Final Rehearsal, Expect Tougher Challenge

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 10, 2002

Basketball: Chinese Women Win Final Rehearsal, Expect Tougher Challenge

Reigning Asian champions China beat Sydney Olympic fourth-placers South Korea 82-71 Wednesday in a rehearsal of the final in the Asian Games' women's basketball tournament.

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China Defeats South Korea in Women's Basketball

Reigning Asian champions China beat Sydney Olympic fourth-placers South Korea 82-71 Wednesday in a rehearsal of the final in the Asian Games' women's basketball tournament.

However, they expected tougher challenge from the hosts in the real final.

"We tried our best," China head coach Gong Luming said after the Chinese women claimed their fourth straight win in the Asiad.

"But I think the South Korean team did not do their utmost.

"They were trying to hide their sharp three pointers from us."

The South Korean women, who were famed for their long range shots, managed only 1-of-12 from the three-point line on Wednesday.

"It will be a more difficult game if both teams make it to the final," Gong said. "But today's victory will boost our morale and help us in the title match."

China, sixth-placers at September's world championship in Jiangsu, China, where South Korea finished fourth, were considered the only title opponents against the hosts in the women's basketball.

Trailing 68-50 early in the fourth quarter, South Korea pulled within 69-63 with five minutes remaining and forced a Chinese time-out. The Chinese women came back to hold the South Korean burst as Chen Nan had consecutive baskets to award China a 77-67 lead with one minute and 23 seconds left.

Chen Nan finished with 18 pints and 11 rebounds for China, who were led by Miao Lijie's 22 points.

Jung Sun-min had 42 points in 40 minutes but she was the only South Korean player to score more than 10 points.

China trailed 12-11 early in the game before rallying with a 31-15 run connecting the first and the second quarter to lead 42-27 at the half time.

Also on Wednesday, defending champions Japan trounced lowly Malaysia 105-57 to clinch the last berth in the women's semifinals scheduled for Saturday.

Tachikawa Masami scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Japanese, final winners over China at the Bangkok Asian Games four years ago.

China now led the six-team round-robin preliminaries with four wins, followed by South Korea (4-1), Chinese Taipei (3-1), Japan (2-3), Uzbekistan (1-4) and Malaysia (0-5).

The Chinese women, who have secured a top four finish and a semifinal berth along with South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Japan, will take on Chinese Taipei on Thursday to conclude the preliminaries.

In the men's action, South Korea beat Kazakhstan 114-98 to set up a clash with the Philippines in the semifinals.

The 2002 NBA top pick Yao Ming, who watched the game from the stand, was impressed by South Korean sharp shooters.

"South Korea did really well in three-point shooting," Yao told Xinhua.

South Korea shot 57% from the field, including 14-for-25 from the three-point line.

In Saturday's men's semifinals, South Korea play the Philippines as China take on Kazakhstan.

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