CHN – Sun: ‘We want to make history’

BEIJING (Olympics) - Sun Yue experienced the high of reaching the quarter-finals with China after a narrow triumph over Germany on Saturday night.

The Chinese weren’t able to carry the momentum into Sunday’s meeting with Greece and lost 91-77.

That result left China in fourth place and put them into a last-eight showdown with Group A winners Lithuania.

Sun, a guard who had nine points and six assists and the Greeks, gave this interview to FIBA.com.

FIBA: Sun, after a difficult first half against Greece your team managed to claw the deficit back to 10 points in the fourth quarter. What positives will you take from this defeat?

Sun: We didn't play well in the first half. Greece put a lot of pressure on us and we found it difficult to make our shots. In the second half, we showed a better game and that will give us enough confidence to prepare for our quarter-final game.

FIBA: The defeat against Greece means China finished fourth in Group B and will meet the top team in Group A in the quarter-finals. What are your thoughts ahead of the clash against Lithuania?

Sun: We know we have to fight. We are not as strong as they are and for that reason, we will have to fight every second, every minute of the game. They are a very strong team on defense and having finished first of their group, they have proved how solid they are.


FIBA: What will be the key for China to upset Lithuania?

Sun: It's the defense which is much more important for us to win a game than anything else. That is what we need to do against Lithuania, we need to play very good defense. Our coaching staff, who knows Lithuania well, will analyze what we need to do in order to win this game.


FIBA: Do you feel the pressure is off China having made it to the quarter-finals of the Olympics for the second time in a row or as hosts, is there a lot of expectation placed on your team?

Sun: We want to make history, that's all. We are in the top eight and we want to go further.

FIBA