European champions Greece laid down a marker for the World
Basketball Championships by winning the warm-up Stankovic Cup
tournament, while China finally showed form in a consolation
victory.
But there was bad news for France whose star player Tony Parker
may miss the World Championships, which start in Japan on Saturday,
after injuring a finger in an 86-74 win over Brazil.
Greece hammered Germany 84-47 in the final of the six-team
tournament Tuesday, using their trademark teamwork, stifling
defense and precision offense to leave Dirk Nowitzki's team
flat-footed.
Coach Panagiotis Giannakis would have been thrilled with the
performance as all 12 of his players scored, shooting 70 percent
from the field and 53 percent from behind the arc.
Greece jumped out to an 18-10 lead at the end of the first
quarter with sharpshooting forward Antonios Fotsis leading the way
with five points in the period.
The Germans could never recover from the deficit, despite seven
points from the Dallas Mavericks' Nowitzki in the first frame.
Nowitzki finished with just nine points, sitting down midway
through the third quarter and never returning as grim-faced German
coach Dirk Bauermann opted to rest his star for Saturday's Group B
opener against Japan.
France claimed third spot with their win against Brazil, but it
came at a price as San Antonio Spurs point guard Parker sprained a
finger on his shooting hand.
Team doctors said it was not broken and a more thorough
examination was necessary to determine the extent of the
injury.
France found their range with a barrage of three-pointers in the
third quarter to pull away after the teams had been deadlocked at
43-all at the halfway stage.
Parker opened the third quarter with a driving basket and a
three pointer as Les Bleus rained down six treys in the period to
take a 74-61 lead going into the final frame.
Phoenix Suns standout Boris Diaw, forward Mickael Gelabale and
veteran sharpshooter Laurent Foirest also were in on the
three-point act for France, who made 12 of 24 three pointers for
the match.
In the fifth place play off, NBA All Star center Yao Ming scored
the winning basket with less than three seconds to go as China
squeaked past Australia 63-61.
Yao's hook shot in the lane sealed the victory for China, the
hosts' first win in three attempts in the warm-up tournament.
The Houston Rockets star, recovering from a broken foot,
finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds on the night as China
prepare to face Italy in Group D play in Japan on Saturday.
The win was also the first for the reunited team of Yao and
four-year NBA veteran Wang Zhizhi, who scored nine points and had
four rebounds in his second game back after a knee injury.
"As long as we stay in our sets and stick to the game plan, I
hope that we can get better and better with every game."
China got off to their best start of the tournament with Yao taking
the game inside for seven first-quarter points as the hosts raced
to a 23-9 lead at the end of the period.
Australia had trouble with China's big front line of Yao and
fellow seven-footers Wang and Yi Jianlian, and the hosts continued
to dominate into the third period opening up a 45-30 lead after
three consecutive scores by Yao.
But the Boomers, led by 20-points and 10 rebounds from Milwaukee
Buck center Andrew Bogut, came storming back with 14 straight
points over the final seven minutes of the quarter.
By the end of the third period Australia had cut the lead to
48-46, as the crowd in the Kunshan gymnasium sat in stunned
silence.
The fourth quarter was a back and forth affair, with both sides
exchanging baskets, while committing a bevy of turn-overs.
But Wang scored six points in the final frame while Yao got four
points, including the final basket.
Australia meet Brazil in their opening match in Japan in Group C
play Saturday.
(AFP via China Daily August 16, 2006)