
Artile Date:14/09/2005
Source:qatarolympics.org
DOHA: China used its second-string team to overwhelm Saudi Arabia 98-10, with Yao Ming resting on the bench to watch China enter the semi-final of the Asian Men's Basketball Championships here yesterday.
The semi-final line-up is now clear. Group I toppers Qatar will take on Group II runners-up Lebanon while Group II toppers China will take on Group II runners-up South Korea.
Yao Ming, whose jaw was cut and had four stitches in Tuesday's win over Lebanon, did not even change his jersey for the pre-game warm-up. He had another bind-up yesterday for his cut, but team doctor Du Wenliang said the Houston Rockets center had no problem to play.
Saudi Arabia scored just four points in the first quarter and two each in the following two quarters.
Tang Zhendong, who had 12 points and nine rebounds, missed a tip-in and Zhang Yunsong missed a 3-pointer down the stretch as China missed an opportunity to score its first 100 points in the tournament.
Reservecentre Mo Ke had a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds while the whole Saudi Arabian team grabbed only nine rebounds and failed in their 21 three-pointer attempts.
"Saudi Arabia shouldn't have played like this. I don't know why. Maybe they are afraid of us," said China's head coach Jonas Kaslauskas.
"I don't think today's win does any good to our game. Tomorrow will be a completely different game. I'm afraid my players will feel relaxed after this win," Kaslauskas added.