Angola edges past China for a last minute win

(Beijing, July 19) -- Angola seemed to have a definitive lead in the third quarter, but today's Stankovic Tournament game came to a neck-and-neck finish, with Angola narrowly beating China 72-71 in day three of round-robin play in Hangzhou, China.

The crowd was China's sixth man today, already showing their support in loud voices as Yi Jian Lian won the tip for China and a minute and a half later dunked the ball。Angola made their first big leap ahead of China when 6'8" center-power forward Joaquim Gomes hit a three and quickly followed it with a dunk, bringing the score 11-2. When Yi responded in kind with his own shot from behind the arc, the crowd again went wild. Yao Ming did not start the game but he made his first appearance this quarter, contributing a pivotal 3 points when fouled on a rebound shot and made his free throw, bringing China within three points reach at 18-15. It seemed China and Angola might be evenly matched when the quarter ended 19-19.

Angola pulled ahead for the entire second quarter, but only managed to outscore China 13-12, after Yi closed the half 32-31 with a breakaway slam dunk at the buzzer.

In the third quarter Angola's lead kept increasing, with an early three pointer by Angola forward Felizardo Ambrosio setting the pace. With 1:30 left, Zhang Qing Peng showed China would not lay down when he hit a big three, but Angola shooting guard Carlos Morais answered with a three pointer, the second buzzer-beater of the game, bringing the score to 59-49.

The fourth quarter seemed in the bag for Angola and even the home crowd grew tame, but with five minutes left the fans got back their faith. The gap was narrowed 57-65 with a three from Zhu Fangyu, and on China's next possession Yao sunk one with the foul and made his free throw. The differential was only five points and the crowd let out a deafening burst of the "Jia You!" ("Go!") cheer. Zhang hit his next two free throws, Angola power forward Eduardo Mingas dropped a three, and Chen Jianghua answered with another one from downtown all in rapid-fare succession and leaving Angola up 67-65.

With the crowd in a nail-biting tizzy, Angola looked genuinely frazzled and got hit with a shot clock violation with 2:11 on the clock. Angola used a time-out, and less than 20 seconds later, after no score change, China also called a TO.

After a missed three from Zhang, Yao is fouled once again on a made shot and delivered the three-point-play, bringing China its first second half lead 68-67. On the next ball, Gomes put in a three to give Angola the edge, only to have Yi respond in kind putting China in the lead again 71-70 with under a minute left. Angola needed one more shot to pull in front, and they got it from Luis Costa's two points, shutting out China for good.

Angola's players thrust their hands in the air in triumph at the buzzer, and the disappointed crowd let out its collectively held breath as China lost 72-71 in day three of the Stankovic Cup, the only FIBA series held in China.