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Chinese basketball team loses to Chinese Taipei at EAG

2013-10-15 09:17 Xinhua Web Editor: Mo Hong'e
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Chinese junior basketball team wasted an early lead to lose 82-79 to Chinese Taipei, the same opponents that crushed China's national team 96-78 in Asian Basketball Championships quarterfinals, at the 6th East Asian Games (EAG) in Tianjin on Monday.

"We spared no efforts today. Due to Wang Zhelin and Li Muhao's absence, we had no advantage in the paint field. But my players never gave up, so I'm very proud of them," said Chinese coach Fan Bin.

Shirelijan had a game-high 23 points for China, and teammate Zhai Xiaochuan finished with 17 points.

China started with Shirelijan, Zhao Tailong, Duan Jiangpeng, Zhong Cheng and Sun Tonglin, the same line-up in the semifinl against South Korea.

Chinese Taipei opened the game with a 6-0 lead thanks to Tien Lei and Lin Chih Chieh's two three-pointers. China got back into the game with Duan Jiangpeng and Zhong Cheng's efforts, going up at 24-17 after the first quarter.

The home team held a five-point advantage in the second period before extending it to seven points with He Tianju's three-pointer at the buzzer.

They enlarged the lead to 13 points after Shirelijan's two consecutive shots behind the arc, but had it cut down to just three points following Liu Cheng's shining play in the final minutes of this quarter.

Chinese Taipei tied the score at 61-all, for the first time since the first quarter, as Ke Chi Hao buried a three-pointer with eight minutes remaining.

Sun Tonglin, who had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, injuried his head with three minutes left, which proved a turning point for China.

"Our team's offense always start from him. After his injury, we had to start our offense from outside the three-point shooting line, which we didn't adjust to immediately," said Shirelijan.

Ke Chi Hao helped Chinese Taipei to go 81-79 up with 25 seconds left. China had to accept the defeat after Zhai Xiaochuan, who finished with five three-pointers, then missed a three-point shot.

"As a young player, he (Zhai) has to pay for it," said Fan.

In third place playoff earlier, South Korea held off Japan81-56 to win the bronze medal.

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