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China suffers night of shame at basketball cup
By Zhao Rui (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-30 07:26
A Chinese victory at Beijing Capital Gymnasium on Friday was overshadowed by what was arguably Chinese Basketball's most shameful night as the referee abandoned their match against Puerto Rico after a mass brawl broke out on court at the ongoing Stankovic Cup.
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| The Puerto Rico players cover their heads while making their way to the locker room after their game against China in the Stankovic Cup was abandoned due to a mass brawl in the last quarter. China were announced winners 91-80. [CD] |
Fists, plastic cups, water bottles and even a fan's shoe went flying in during the fracas with China's Yi Jianlian, Tang Zhengdong, Mo Ke and Li Nan right in the middle of it.
Li, who was not even playing in the match because of injury, and Mo charged the court to fight the Puerto Rico players with just one minute and 28 seconds left on the clock in a game China were winning comfortably 91-80.
Officials abandoned the game after pushing and fighting between the teams spilled into the stands where fans were beginning to get involved in the violence.
"This is the ugliest scene I have ever experienced in my life," said Wang Kai, a 31-year-old fan who came to the gym with his wife. "The Puerto Rico players have travelled more than 30 hours to come to China and they are our guests. As the host team, how can we treat them with such disdain?"
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