Pangasinan Today

BEIJING - A US team of NBA All Stars made easy work of defeating Spain in a 119-82 victory as the reigning world champions suffered their first defeat here Saturday in the Beijing Olympic basketball tournament.

This victory left the United States one win away from topping Group B, something they will achieve if they later beat a German team that was all but knocked out of medal contention with a 59-55 loss to China.

The Americans used their signature blanket defense and a high powered offense to put the game away early in the second quarter, going up by 20 points with a balanced attack based on an array of fast break dunks and savvy outside shooting.

“I was really pleased with our effort,” US coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

“I liked our defense, forcing the number of turnovers we did was the most satisfying for me.”

Eight US players scored in double figures, led by reigning NBA scoring champion LeBron James with 18 points, followed by Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade with 16 each, Chris Paul with 14 and Kobe Bryant with 11.

“I was really proud of the way we came into the game focused, from the beginning to the end and on both ends of the court,” Denver Nugget Anthony said.

Spain was led by Fernando Reyes with 19 points, while Bryant’s Los Angeles Laker team-mate Pau Gasol added 13 points for the losers.

Renamed the “Redeem Team,” the current group of American players are seeking to make amends for a disappointing bronze medal at the Athens Games four years ago and poor showings at the 2002 and 2006 world championships.

Although the offense of Team USA was sloppy at times, as the game wore on, its athleticism and quickness on defense was too much for the Spaniards.

That was reflected in the Americans forcing 28 turnovers and grabbing 16 steals.

In an earlier defensive battle between China and Germany, towering centre Yao Ming scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in keeping his team’s hopes of a first-ever Olympic basketball medal alive.

The win virtually assured China of advancing to the medal round and likely to face either Lithuania or defending champions Argentina — dependent on the outcome of Monday’s final preliminary round match up with Greece.

“The key today was our defense and Yao Ming inside, everyone needs a player like him, he’s a team leader,” said China’s Lithuanian coach Jonas Kazlauskas.

“It was very difficult for us, difficult psychologically, but it was good to play at home as we knew we could not lose this game.”

China saw its 13-point fourth-quarter lead dissolve into a one point advantage as Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 points in the last six minutes of the game to bring Germany to within 56-55.

Houston Rocket Yao scored three of his team’s final points with a turn around jumper and a free throw, while New Jersey Net power forward Yi Jianlian hit a clutch basket with 28 seconds to seal the win.

Nowitzki finished with 24 points, but missed an open three pointer with time running off the clock, while sharp shooting guard Pascal Roller repeatedly silenced a boisterous crowd with 13 points, mostly from outside.

In Saturday’s other Group B match, Greece beat Angola 102-61, all but ensuring the Athens 2004 silver medalists another trip to the medal round.

In Group A, Denver Nugget Linus Kleiza scored 12 of his 18 points — including four second half three pointers — and Mindaugas Lukauskis added 20 to help Lithuania remain unbeaten in four games with a 86-73 over third place Croatia.

Meanwhile, Manu Ginobili scored 32 points to lead Argentina to its third win here, a 97-82 victory over Iran that all but sealed second place for the South Americans.

Also in Group A, Australia beat Russia 95-80, with Milwaukie Buck Andrew Bogut sharing scoring honors with CJ Bruton with 22 points a piece and vitually knocking the European champs out of medal contention.

Final preliminary round matches will be played Monday in both Group A and B.