CHINA TOPIX

12/22/2024 06:51:36 pm

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Chinese Men’s National Basketball Team Fosters Experience Through 'Death Group' in Rio Olympic Games

yi jianlian

(Photo : gettyimages.com) Yi Jianlian is on his fourth Olympic trip with Team China.

The Chinese men's national basketball team has arrived in the City of Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday and Gong Luming, the national squad's head coach is hoping that their team can pick up valuable experience through the "Death Group" at the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

"We feel no pressure. This is a valuable experience for Chinese basketball, and we cherish that a lot. We can learn about how far we are away from those top-level teams," the 58-year-old Gong said.

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China, which is currently ranked No. 14 in the latest FIBA World Rankings, lost to the national teams of Australia, the United States, and Brazil in the past ten days in their build-up to the Olympics, according to Xinhua.

However, Gong said that these tune-up games have taught the team a good lesson in terms of what they lack in comparison to these strong ball squads.

"We have been in the crucial phase of our preparation. The warmup series helped us a lot, and gave more experience to our young players," Yi Jianlian, who is on his fourth Olympic trip, said.

Yi, 28, a native of Heshan is a former NBA player. Yi was the 6th overall pick selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2007 NBA Draft. The four-time Chinese Basketball Association Domestic MVP is the most experienced player in the current lineup of the national squad.

According to Sina, China is placed in Group A with the reigning Olympics defending champion, the United States, FIBA Oceania kings, Australia, as well as Venezuela, Serbia, and France.

China has appeared in nine Olympic Games but the national team has not yet won a medal in the prestigious quadrennial sporting event.

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