CHN/CUB – China hold off Cuba to stay undefeated
BEIJING (Olympic Test Event) – China remained unbeaten at the 2008 Beijing Basketball Test Event by holding off Cuba 66-58. Chen Xiaoli drilled three of four shots from long range and finished with 17 points to lead the hosts, who won for the fourth time in the competition. Cuba led 14-12 at the end of the opening quarter and were always ...
BEIJING (Olympic Test Event) – China remained unbeaten at the 2008 Beijing Basketball Test Event by holding off Cuba 66-58.
Chen Xiaoli drilled three of four shots from long range and finished with 17 points to lead the hosts, who won for the fourth time in the competition.
Cuba led 14-12 at the end of the opening quarter and were always within striking distance but Chen and China were just too good on the night.
“It was a hard match to win,” said China coach Tom Maher.
“I thought especially in the first half, our offense was good but our shots weren’t going in. We were still able to have the lead at half-time and that’s because we were playing good defense.”
“Tonight’s game was very close,” Cuba coach Alberto Zabala said.
“Number 12 was very effective on offense and was too much for us to handle, and China was very good at the free throw line while our field goal percentage wasn’t very good tonight.”
China made all 16 of their free throws while Cuba shot just 35% (18 of 52) inside the arc.
“I’m very pleased that we could win that game,” said China coach Tom Maher.
“Same ranking, same group; Cuba are one of the teams we have to be able to beat. They are close to the same ranking as us.”
Cuba’s current rank is eighth in the world while China are 10th.
FIBA