Houston Rockets center Yao Ming sunk 12 points and six rebounds
on Monday, leading China to a 69-56 victory in the first match of a
two-leg warm-up series with the Aussie side, Melbourne Tigers.
Yi Jianlian, who will be bound for the NBA in the coming season,
scored the team's highest 19 points with 10 rebounds, while Wang
Shipeng contributed eight in the game in south China's Shenzhen
city.
The win ensured that China could finally break their losing
streak, following consecutive losses in international events. The
team only clinched six wins in 23 matches without Yao Ming.
It was Yao's first formal game after a honeymoon with Ye Li,
also a basketballer from the women's national team.
China grabbed seven wins out of 10 clashes with the Tigers since
2003.
The Chinese failed to pick up their form after the game started
while the Aussies managed a 5-0 surge before concluding the opening
quarter 16-12.
With a three pointer from Liu Wei and a dunk from Yi, China
reversed it 17-16 just seconds into the second period, during which
they consolidated the lead and widened the gap to 32-26 by the
end.
The home side went on to attack in the third quarter and left no
chance for the rivals to hit back after notching up a 45-30
edge.
The two sides will head to Macao for their second clash on
Wednesday.
(CRI September 4, 2007)
