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China Scrambles for Opener Victory
An over-estimated Chinese basketball team stumbled in its opener in the Universiade as the gold favorite struggled in a 77-65 win over the British Virgin Island in the men's competition on Wednesday.
Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming, two of China's center trio known as " the Walking Great Wall", combined for 43 points and 30 rebounds, with Wang leading the team with 23 points.
Virgin Island's Hodge Steven scored 23 points including three three-pointers to lead its seven on-court players. Victor Cuthbert contributed 18 points and nine rebounds.
After a lackluster first quarter when China had just nine points in 10 minutes, Yao initiated the attacking force with aggressive defense to keep up with the paces of the British Virgin Island.
Yao, 21 and 2.15 meters high, grabbed an astonishing 21 rebounds and was credited with five blocks for his ruling inside the key.
Wang, the Dallas Mavericks center, dunked every time he got the chance to boost his team to overcome a 40-37 first-half deficit in the third quarter.
It was 2:45 minutes when players resumed the rivalry after coming back when China tied the game for the first time at 45-45 on Wang's jam.
China, who won the Asian Championship last month, outplayed the British Virgin Island 20-13 and 20-12 in the third and fourth quarter respectively to claim a hard-fought victory.
The 6-4-foot Cuthbert opened the visiting team's first half with a spectacular dunk over the 7-6 Yao before the British Virgin Island to a 25-11 lead 2:30 minutes into the second half.
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