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ATHENS, Aug. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming spoke out his disappointment with his teammates following an embarrassing 83-58 loss to Spain at the opener of the men's basketball tournament of the Athens Olympic Games here on Sunday.
"I'm disappointed with my teammates," the Houston
Rockets center said. "We gave up at the end of the game. I don't think some of
my teammates cherish the honor to play for the country at the Olympic Games."
Trailing 61-43 into the fourth quarter, China never
picked up real attacks to close the gap. Yao yelled at head coach Del Harris and
his teammates during a time-out midway in the period.
"It's not easy making into the national team. A bunch
of good players were cut off to make the final squad. But I don't think they
know how important it is to stand here," said Yao, who had 12points and five
rebounds before fouled out down the stretch.
"I don't know how the players at home will think
about us afterthey know the loss. They would not have played worse if they would
have been here," he added.
Harris, former assistant coach of the Dallas
Mavericks of the NBA, said he thought his team had chance to beat the Europeans.
"I know Spain is a good team, but I think we were
better prepared, especially after we played well at the Diamond Ball Tournament.
I thought we could have competed better than them," Harris said. Enditem
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