Yao calmly buried four free-throws down the stretch, including a go-ahead one, to help China win the do-or-die match.

    Serbia, then Yugoslavia, slashed China 128-61 in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, where China took unprecedented eighth place.

    The Houston Rockets center scored 27 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to storm China into the quarter-finals for the second time in China's basketball history.

    "The Olympics is the place to create miracle. Today we made the miracle by beating the world champions," said China's point guard Liu Wei.

    Zelimir Obradovic, head coach of the Serbia team, apparently could not accept the results and kept his head down for the whole post-game news conference.

    "This is a big shock to me. This is the hardest moment in my career," Obradovic said.

    China led only once after the first quarter until Yao drilled in his third free-throws in a row to make it 64-63 with 28 secondsto go.

    Du Feng made another two free-throws of his 12 points to give China a commanding 67-63 lead with just three seconds left in game.Milos Vujanic scored a consolation 3-pointer on the buzzer.

    Predrag Drobnjak led Serbia with 17 points and Dejan Tomasevichad nine points and 11 rebounds.

    "The meaning of the game is not just triumph. It is a precious treasure to China's basketball and the young generations," Yao said. "I'd like to thank coach (Del) Harris for his contribution to China."