Yi: to fight through every game at basketball worlds
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Washington Wizards forward Yi Jianlian told Xinhua later Monday that he and his teammates will fight through every game at the ongoing basketball worlds and try their best for a good result.
China scored their first win in the 2010 FIBA basketball worlds on Sunday, beating Cote d'Ivoire 83-73 after a 81-89 loss to Greece on Saturday.
Yi scored the highest 26 points in each of the two games. NBA star center Yao Ming who is recovering from the foot injury is not included in the young squad for the championships.
Yi said his scores were a result of the efforts of the whole team, which had prepared for a long time for this event and viewed it as a chance to improve themselves.
"Basketball is all about team work. All of us, no matter whether in the court or on the bench, have the same goal," he said in an interview with Xinhua.
Seven members of the Chinese team are having their first world championships experiences. Coach Bob Donewald has said the championships was an opportunity for young players to grow and learn and that they didn't have any specific tasks.
Yi said Donewald gave the team more encouragement rather than criticism as he hoped the players focus on the game and rally up.
"We never predict or think about which team we are going to challenge," said Yi. "We just focus on the next game and forget about the previous games. We'll fight through every game."
He said he was in good condition and that there should be no physical problems for all the players.
China will take on Puerto Rico on Tuesday evening and faces Russia and Turkey on Wednesday and Thursday.
Having shuttled between center and power forward positions in the previous games, Yi said his position in the next several games would depend on the coach's arrangement.
"I'll just focus on how to play well ... We'll go all-out to fight at each game and try to get a good score," he said.
