Yao Ming: No second chance in Olympics
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-08-27 03:46

Chinese pivot Yao Ming said China suffered from the lack of experiences in the Olympics, but there is no second chance when the game is on the line.

China lost to Lithuania 95-75 in the quarter-final of the men's basketball tournament of the Games. The Asian champion will vie against Spain, who lost to the United States 102-94, for the seventh place.

China's Yao Ming slam dunks during their men's basketball quarter-final against Lithuania at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Thursday, Aug 26, 2004. Lithuania beat China 95-75. [AP]

"We didn't start well and let them run away. That is the Olympics. You don't have a second chance to turn the table around, " said the Houston Rockets center.

Lithuania broke away after 17-17 to lead all the way for the victory.

"I think the margin should be around 10 points, not 20," said Yao, who led China into the second last-eight appearance in the Games.

"Few of us has the experiences of the quarter-finals in the Olympics. I think this is the reason we lost today."

Point guard Arvydas Macijauskas shot 7-out-12 on 3-pointers to score 32 points for Lithuania, who toped Group B in the preliminary round.

"It would have been a close game if we had controlled their shooters. We don't need to play out our best, just play as we usually did, and the result will be different," Yao said.

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