Yao Ming Mania! ~ View topic - China VS Puerto Rico Game 3 upset!!

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http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingne...rticle_id=16669

WOLD BASKETBALL
Yao fumes as basketball loss deals China a crushing blow
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 04:50pm (Mla time) 08/22/2006

SAPPORO, Japan -- China's bid to reach the playoff rounds of the World Basketball Championship suffered a huge blow Tuesday with a 90-87 overtime loss to Puerto Rico as Yao Ming watched helplessly from the bench.

China's star 2.26m center fouled out with 4:40 remaining in regulation on a controversial call, leaving the Asian champions without National Basketball Association veterans Yao and Wang Zhi-Zhi for the decisive minutes.

"Ask the referees. They know all about me," was all a grim-faced Yao had to say as he walked out of the arena after the match.

The round-robin Group D defeat dropped China to 0-3. Their only hope to reach the knockout rounds that start Saturday at Saitama is to beat Senegal and Slovenia the next two days.

"We lost a big chance," China coach Jonas Kazlauskas said. "I think we still have a chance. To win the next two games, it's difficult. But why not?"

Yao, a star for the Houston Rockets, led China with 29 points. Orlando Magic guard Carlos Arroyo added 25 points for Puerto Rico, now 2-1.

China squandered an 11-point lead with 8:40 remaining in regulation time.

"We had an opportunity and we didn't seize it. We let it slip through our fingers," Chinese forward Yi Jianlian said.

Daniel Santiago scored eight of his 14 points in a 13-2 Puerto Rico run while Yao was on the bench in foul trouble. Yao returned only to be sent off with the game even at 71-71.

"I tried to save Yao but Santiago started making a lot of points and hurting us," Kazlauskas said.

"I just said, 'Yao, don't make a move. It's better to give the two points than give them a chance to call a foul on you.' You saw what happened."

Antonio Latimer's basket with 22.3 seconds remaining leveled the game at 76-76 and Puerto Rico opened overtime with a 12-3 run to seal China's fate, Elias Ayuso scoring eight of his team-high 27 points in the decisive streak.

"We were able to capitalize on their mistakes and when Yao fouled out we were able to capitalize on that," Ayuso said.

Liu Wei's basket three seconds from the end only trimmed the final margin.

Yao scored nine points in a 17-2 China run over six minutes to help China build their largest lead at 67-56 with 8:47 remaining. Yao's final foul was the major post-game topic.

"I don't think the referees were in anybody's pocket. Everybody has had problems with the referees," Santiago said. "It was very difficult. They made some great plays. We didn't give up. With Yao out, it was a little easier.

"Our aggressiveness and our heart got us through."

Yao was confronted by Puerto Rican center P.J. Ramos in the second quarter. After a face-to-face glare, Ramos nudged his forehead into Yao's chin, more a nod than a Zinedane Zidane-style fiasco.

Yao's only response was by making a turnaround jump shot over the Puerto Rican on China's next possession.

"Peter is a young player. He's still very emotional. These things happen in a game like this," Santiago said.

"We know Yao is going to get his points. We just tried to make him work to get his shots. When he got in foul trouble that helped us a lot."

Kazlauskas said his team cannot take even a small break in such a game if it hopes to win.

"For sure the team except for Yao and Wang is not experienced," he said. "If we want to win the big games we cannot rest for even one or two minutes. Those minutes just killed us."

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