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Hoopsters ready for Spanish test in opener
Source: Xinhua |
July 26, 2012, Thursday
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THE Chinese men's basketball team was in "good state" and ready to take on world champion Spain in its London Olympic Games opener.
"We couldn't be more prepared. We're in a good state, good health. After a couple of days of practise and we'll get on," coach Robert Donewald Jr. said after a training session.
China lost four times in the past three Olympics to Spain, but the last meeting at the 2008 Beijing Games was not an easy one for the silver medalist Spain, which tried everything to force an overtime to win a preliminary-round match 85-75.
"I think experience will help. They (Spain) said they wanted to beat the United States for the gold medal here. I know we'll play the top team in the world, but I think we had played them before, which will take away our nerves," Donewald said.
Guard Wang Shipeng said, "We won't give up the match. Every match is important. Spain is a good team but we'll show them what we can do."
The Chinese team arrived in London on Tuesday after a two-match trip to Poland, where it won the first match against the Polish national side 73-72 but lost the second by 79-81.
"The matches showed the consistence of the team. We had a chance to win both as Donewald put on some young players in the second match.
"But the results were not so important. We gained confidence from the games," said team leader Hu Jiashi.
"We played good games in Poland, and I think the team grew up a little bit," Donewald said. "We started badly in the first game. But suddenly we realized how to play like a team. I'm really happy about the matches."
Forward Wang Zhizhi said the team is in a high spirit in anticipation for the game against Spain on July 29. China also faces Brazil, Australia, Russia and Britain in Group A.
"We couldn't be more prepared. We're in a good state, good health. After a couple of days of practise and we'll get on," coach Robert Donewald Jr. said after a training session.
China lost four times in the past three Olympics to Spain, but the last meeting at the 2008 Beijing Games was not an easy one for the silver medalist Spain, which tried everything to force an overtime to win a preliminary-round match 85-75.
"I think experience will help. They (Spain) said they wanted to beat the United States for the gold medal here. I know we'll play the top team in the world, but I think we had played them before, which will take away our nerves," Donewald said.
Guard Wang Shipeng said, "We won't give up the match. Every match is important. Spain is a good team but we'll show them what we can do."
The Chinese team arrived in London on Tuesday after a two-match trip to Poland, where it won the first match against the Polish national side 73-72 but lost the second by 79-81.
"The matches showed the consistence of the team. We had a chance to win both as Donewald put on some young players in the second match.
"But the results were not so important. We gained confidence from the games," said team leader Hu Jiashi.
"We played good games in Poland, and I think the team grew up a little bit," Donewald said. "We started badly in the first game. But suddenly we realized how to play like a team. I'm really happy about the matches."
Forward Wang Zhizhi said the team is in a high spirit in anticipation for the game against Spain on July 29. China also faces Brazil, Australia, Russia and Britain in Group A.
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