Source: CCTV.com

11-17-2006 14:07

China's men's national team have boosted their Asian Games preparations with a big victory. Despite the absence of star center Yao Ming, they whitewashed the NBA development league champions Albuquerque Thunderbirds 82-55 in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Thursday night.

This was the first of the two tune-up games between China and the Thunderbirds, just within two weeks before the start of the Asian Games in Qatar.

China were playing without center Yao Ming due to his NBA commitment. They got off to a shaky start with mistakes and few fine baskets, trailing one point at the end of the first quarter.

Things improved in the second period, and this three-pointer from Wang Shipeng help the Asians regain the lead, before they rallied to a four-point advantage at halftime.

A revitalized China overwhelmed their opponents in the second half, with former NBA center Wang Zhizhi dominating from the inside with a team-high 16 points throughout the game.

China carried an 18-point lead into the final period, and their top form put the final result with no doubt, 82-55.

They two teams will take on each other again in Macao on Saturday.

 

Editor:Ge Ting