China overwhelmed Saudi Arabia 98-10 in the Asian Men's Basketball Championships in Doha, Qatar yesterday, despite Yao Ming resting on the bench.
   
"Saudi Arabia shouldn't have played like this. I don't know why. Maybe they are afraid of us," said China's head coach Jonas Kaslauskas.
   
"I don't think today's win does any good to our game. Tomorrow will be a complete different game. I'm afraid my players will feel relaxed after the win," he added.
   
Saudi Arabia scored four points in the first quarter and two in each of the following quarters.
   
Tang Zhendong, who had 12 points and nine rebounds, missed a tip-in and Zhang Yunsong missed a 3-pointer down the stretch as China failed to score its first 100 points in the tournament.
   
Reserve center Mo Ke had game-high 21 points and nine rebounds while the whole Saudi Arabian team grabbed only nine rebounds and was fruitless on 21 3-pointer attempts.
   
Yao, whose jaw needed four stitches after being cut during Tuesday's win over Lebanon, did not even change his jersey for the pre-game warm-up, though team doctor Du Wenliang said he was well enough to play.
   
South Korea beat Iran 87-75 later that day and is due to face three-time defending champions China in today's semi-final.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2005)