The Chinese men's basketball team has suffered a third loss at the World Championships in Japan, losing 90-87 to Puerto Rico in overtime.

 

China played impressively in an up-and-down game.

 

The team started strongly and enjoyed an eight-point lead in the first quarter, getting ahead 24-16.

 

However, Puerto Rico trimmed down the deficit with a series of three-pointer bombardments and took the lead at the whistle of the second quarter 39-38.

 

Trailing with only one point down, China managed to take advantage, leading 60-54 at the end of the third quarter.

 

China even extended their lead to 10 points when star center Yao Ming left the court after four fouls to get a break.

 

Puerto Rico took advantage of Yao's absence and shortened the gap to only two points.

 

Yao, the giant star, had to step onto the court again to defend China's fragile lead. But unfortunately, he was sent off by the referee after a fifth foul with less than five minutes to the end. Yao led scoring with 29 points and eight rebounds.

 

The final minutes of the game saw China commit many errors and lose the chance to take the upper hand.

 

The game went into overtime after the two teams tied at 76 apiece.

 

The Chinese players showed some talent in the Yao-less overtime and showed this team is more than just Yao Ming. However, they failed to climb back and lost 90-87.

 

They still have chances to reach the knockout stage if they can beat Senegal and Slovenia the next two days.

 

(CRI August 22, 2006)