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China beats Iran to relieve some pressure

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-30 10:51

Yi Jianlian of Chinese men's basketball team jumps for a slam dunk during the Stankovic Continental Cup match against Iran in Liuzhou, July 29, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

LIUZHOU, Guangxi province - For China, the match against Iran was more about pride than victory on Thursday night.

The men's basketball team had been under huge pressure since last year's Asian Championship final loss to Iran and it finally got rid of some of the stigma with a 86-64 demolition of its rising Asian rival at the Stankovic Continental Cup.

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Wang Shipeng led China with 22 points while Washington Wizards forward Yi Jianlian had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts.

A determined Chinese side took a 21-15 lead after the first quarter and then used aggressive offense in the second to all but seal the match by extending the margin to 43-23.

China played without Houston Rocket center Yao Ming, who is out with a broken foot while Iran missed towering center Hamed Ehadadi, who is playing preseason NBA games.

Iran blew out home favorite China, 70-52, to defend its Asian Championship last year in Tianjin.

In Thursday's earlier match, Australia defeated Slovenia 77-63 and virtually booked a place in Sunday's final.