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China edges Italy in basketball friendly

Xinhua, July 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Guo Ailun's match-high 18 points lifted Chinese Olympic team of men's basketball over Italy at 72-64 here on Wednesday at the 2015 Internationl Basketball Challenge.

The Italian team, which believes to be the weakest team in the group of host China, Asian Champion Iran and Slovakian national team, is made of players from a training camp of a Italian fourth-division club named Rimini Crabs. Georgi Miadenov, coach of the team, confirmed that in the after-match press conference.

But this team caused the host lots of trouble in the first quarter. A 11-0 run in three minutes in the middle of the first half set a nine-point lead for the Italian team and they finished the first period by 18-16.

The host fought back in the second period. Kyranbek scored his second three-pointer to tie the score at 29-29 with six minutes and 36 seconds to halftime. Li Muhao took eight in that period. Guo Ailun and Kyranbek contributed six apiece to help China lead by six by second quarter.

Both team struggled in the third quarter and China outscored Italy 12-11. Guo Ailun and Li Muhao stood out in the final quarter to seal the 72-64 victory for China.

"We didn't do well in both sides in the first quarter. We had a poor defence and had too much turnovers in offence," said Cui Wanjun, head coach of China. "But my players improved after halftime and won the match."

Guo finished with a match-high 18 points and led four Chinese players who scored in double-digits. Li Muhao added 15 and seven rebounds.

The Chinese team will play against the loser of the match between the United States and Lithuenia in Friday's semifinals. Endi