Home>News Center>Sports
             
     

    China earn respect, Lithuania roll into semi-finals
    (Agencies)
    Updated: 2004-08-27 07:55

    Undefeated Lithuania rolled into the Olympic men's basketball semi-finals with a 95-75 triumph over China in Athens, but the Asian champions earned some respect in defeat from the European champions.


    China's Yao Ming (L) grabs for the ball as he fights off Lithuania's Eurelijus Zukauskas (R) in the men's basketball quarter-finals at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens during the Olympic Games. [Reuters]

    Arvydas Macijauskas scored 32 points to lift Lithuania into a Friday semi-final against Italy after escaping a potential quarter-final knockout.

    "The highest psychological tension placed on the team is this step," said Lithuania coach Antanas Sireika. "We're very happy to have overcome this barrier. The big stone fell down from the heart of the coach."

    The United States, which lost to Lithuania in the preliminary round, faces either Greece or Argentina in the other semi-final after downing previously unbeaten Spain 102-94.

    Instead of a medal, Spain will play China on Saturday for seventh place.

    The Chinese team will produce their best Olympic finish if they win, improving upon an eighth-place effort in 1996.

    "We're hoping to show our experience has made us better players," China coach Del Harris said. "I hope our players feel the proper motivation to show they have benefitted from playing top world competition."

    Lithuania, bronze medallists the past three Olympics, beat the US team in the preliminary round but could see the Americans again in the final. After a 2000 Sydney semi-final loss to the US squad, Lithuania could dethrone them.

    "In Sydney we lost to the United States in a very close match," Lithuanian forward Mindaugas Zukauskas said. "We've already beaten them once here, but it will be double revenge if we get to beat them in the finals."

    NBA Houston Rockets center Yao Ming scored 29 points and 11 rebounds for China, which stayed within reach of Lithuania most of the first half.

    "We're not playing at the same status as Lithuania," Yao said. "We should now know how the Europeans play at this level and how we can reach them. We now know how to improve ourselves."

    China's gap to Europe's finest might not be so huge, Macijauskas said.

    "They're a strong team. They have the best center in the tournament in Yao Ming, and it was hard for us to stop him," he said.

    Lithuania kept China at bay in the second half, but Harris took pride in his team's effort.

    "In the second half I thought they went down fighting," Harris said. "I liked what I saw."

    "We're simply not at the same level," Chinese forward Ke Chen said. "We played well but they were a better team."

    China captain Li Nan was pleased the team found offense from sources other than Yao.

    "At the start our offense was better. We didn't totally rely on Yao Ming," Li said. "We will do our best against Spain."

    Lithuanian assistant coach Donnie Nelson, like Harris an NBA assistant with the Dallas Mavericks, said China's showing here is a stepping stone to greater things at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    "Every young team has to go through what China is going through right now. There's just no substitute for experience," Nelson said.

    "China will be very proud of that team in 2008. Yao will be in his prime. These guys will be more experienced and more ready for this. It's a team that will get better with time."



     
      Today's Top News     Top Sports News
     

    Authorities acting to prevent animal epidemics

     

       
     

    China's guo easily wins 3m springboard

     

       
     

    Iraqi government, Al-Sadr OK peace deal

     

       
     

    Tokyo urged to teach true history

     

       
     

    HK exhibition honours Deng Xiaoping

     

       
     

    Report: Agricultural situation improves

     

       
      China's guo easily wins 3m springboard
       
      China to play Russia for women's volleyball gold
       
      Liu Xiang advances into men's 110m final
       
      Chinese Taipei wins first-ever Olympic gold
       
      Yao Ming: No second chance in Olympics
       
      China earn respect, Lithuania roll into semi-finals
       
     
      Go to Another Section  
     
     
      Story Tools  
       
    Advertisement
             
    久久久久亚洲?V成人无码| 亚洲AV无码1区2区久久| 黄桃AV无码免费一区二区三区| 中文午夜乱理片无码| 最近免费中文字幕MV在线视频3 | 97人妻无码一区二区精品免费| 中文字幕在线免费看线人| 精品久久久久久无码专区不卡| 在线天堂中文新版www| 中文字幕精品亚洲无线码二区| 国产成人无码一区二区在线播放| 亚洲综合无码精品一区二区三区| 中文字幕欧美日韩在线不卡| 久久无码中文字幕东京热| 成人午夜福利免费无码视频| 精品无码AV一区二区三区不卡| 亚洲AV无码国产丝袜在线观看| 无码不卡av东京热毛片| 亚洲JIZZJIZZ中国少妇中文| 最近更新2019中文字幕| 波多野结衣中文字幕在线| 伊人久久无码中文字幕| 亚洲精品无码你懂的网站| 国产精品亚洲专区无码WEB| 国产精品无码久久综合| 精品视频无码一区二区三区| 无码精品人妻一区二区三区漫画 | 亚洲无码视频在线| 人妻无码久久精品| 亚洲国产综合精品中文第一| 毛片一区二区三区无码| 亚洲精品无码专区久久同性男| 亚洲成a人在线看天堂无码| 久クク成人精品中文字幕| 中文字幕人成高清视频| 色综合久久中文字幕无码| 亚洲综合日韩中文字幕v在线| 亚洲中文字幕无码专区| 成人午夜亚洲精品无码网站| 日韩精品无码免费一区二区三区| 狠狠躁狠狠躁东京热无码专区|