Lithuania crowned, China 4th at Continental Champions Cup
By Zhao Rui (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-01 05:32

Later yesterday, the host team China failed to finish on a high as they suffered their second consecutive loss following a 86-66 rout to Argentina on Saturday.

China lacked the energy and intensity they displayed in the first three matches, shooting just 28.6 per cent from the field.

"We made a full defence arrangement before the game," said head coach Jonas Kazlauskas. "I really cannot say we played good defence as we didn't keep tight throughout all four quarters."

Yi Jianlian, playing due to the absence of NBA All-Star centre Yao Ming, was frozen out by opponents as he scored just one from seven shooting attempts to finish with 11 points and three rebounds. Forward Mo Ke led the game with 14 points and team captain Li Nan had 12.

It was a surprisingly quiet game for China's forward Zhu Fangyu, who scored just five points, netting just one-of-nine three-point shots in 35 minutes. The sharp shooter had 25 points in the match against Puerto Rico last Friday.

"Without Yao, we lost control under the basket," said Kazlauskas. "Our outside players could not find any chance as the paint was badly pushed."

After a sub-par performance in the first three quarters, and trailing by as much as 14 points, China bounced back behind Li, who skipped the first three matches due to an arm injury. He claimed nine of his 12 points by firing three consecutive three-pointers to cut the deficit to five.

But his efforts proved too little as the sizzling Australians soon established another double-digit lead before the final buzzer.

In another match, Argentina defeated Puerto Rico 86-79, condemning the Puerto Rican's to a long journey home nursing a winless record.