AUS - Yao slides by Bogut in tight loss

KANSHUN (Stankovic Cup/FIBA World Championship) - The Australia Post Boomers lost a tight contest to China 63-61 in the final match of the Boris Stankovic Cup in Kanshun.

Andrew Bogut top scored for Australia with 20 points, Sam Mackinnon added 12 points and Jason Smith scored 10 points.

"We did the same thing we did against Greece and France," Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said.

"We opened the game flat-footed and we were on our heels for most of the first half."

"But we fought our way back and we gave ourselves a chance to win."

A sell out crowd of 10,000 spurred the home team to a double-digit first quarter lead which stretched to 16 midway through the second quarter.

Australia snapped out of its funk to finish the half on a 9-3 run, entering the main break down 35-26.

Tight defense and a 12-0 run to open the second half breathed life back into the Boomers’ hearts and took them to within 1 point of the lead.

Both teams elevated their play to a higher level for the remainder of the game before China closed out a tight one, 63-61.

Chinese superstar Yao Ming scored 21 points to lead the Asian Champions while Wang ZhiZhi supported with 11.

The clash of the big men Andrew Bogut and Yao Ming delighted the crowd, but put both players in foul trouble. When Bogut was forced to sit it was costly. When Yao was on the bench the Boomers took control.

"With Yao on the court they were at a whole different level," Goorjian said.

"But I thought we were the dominant team with him off the floor."

"The battle between Bogut and Yao Ming was a good one."

Goorjian attributed the team’s sluggish start to an emotional hangover from Sunday’s euphoric Boomer victory over France and while a victory against China would have given the Boomers extra confidence going into the World Cup, the tight loss may galvanise their resolve.

"I think the guys are alright about it," Goorjian said.

"We came into this tournament wanting to get better and we’ve shown some things to ourselves that we didn’t know coming in. We can play with anybody."

Entering Saturday’s FIBA World Championship opener against Brazil, every basketball fan in Australia hopes that the coach is right.

Basketball Australia