CAIRNS TAIPANS CHINA EXPERIENCE #2
BY BRAD BURDON
The team had a much needed sleep in today, our first chance to get a decent 8 hours sleep so far on the trip, and a massive help for the players as they try to physically and mentally recover from our travel days. Once again an amazing breakfast awaited us along with Paul Pierce and his entourage in the dining hall. The hotel staff were a little more organised for Brad Hill and his need for a toaster today. Yesterday we had a toaster but no table to place it on near the power point in the dining hall. So what was the Chinese solution? Have a waitress stand there for the duration of breakfast holding the toaster just in case his Royal Highness Mr Hill needed some more toast. Today the toaster had its own table and the waitress’ hands were suitably bandaged (just joking she was fine).
Practice today was put back to midday (2pm Australian time) to allow for the arrival of Taipans Assistant Mick Downer and guest players Ben Smith and Ben Dowdell. The trio have joined us from Beijing where they represented Australia at the World University Games. While the group again prepared well the highlight has to be credited to rookie Matty Adekponya who put a dribble move on with such vigour and enthusiasm that he basically tripped himself over, face planted and tore a hole in his shoes. What made the situation even more enjoyable however was the fact that he was in the middle of some 5 and 0, a drill with no defenders or anyone within 5 meters of him for that matter. It is obviously this passion and love for the game that a small contingent of female Chinese fans have come embrace as well.
Once again tonight we arrived to a smoke hazed packed stadium, it appears the “dangers of smoking memo” is yet to make its way to the Far East. As expected the crowd went crazy for NBA superstars Paul Pierce and Michael Beasley but they would be quickly quietened by a tenacious Taipans defense. The game followed a near identical pattern to the previous nights encounter with great team D setting up a double digit lead at quarter time (22 to 11), with Pierce and Beasley kept well under control. The second quarter again saw our defensive pressure build and the expected flow of transition points allowed us to blow the lead out to 24 at the half (43 to 19). The Americans did lift in the second with their NBA stars showing some signs of brilliance; however the boys were never going to give an inch and still claimed the half by a point to ensure the 88 to 63 victory.
The nature of the game again allowed Coach Fearne to rotate heavily meaning that no player was required for more than 25mins. While the definite keys to the victory were great team defensive principles and some extremely unselfish ball movement on offense, a number of individual performances did shine out. Dusty Rychart played tough at both ends of the floor, winning his individual match up with Beasley by racking up 16 points @ 78% to go along with 7 boards. Brad Hill impressed the locals with 2 massive dunks on his way to 14 points, while fellow new recruit Jeff Dowdell chimed in with 11 and 5 (points and rebounds). Other notables were Deba George with 10 points and Aaron Grabau’s game high 9 rebounds.
Our 2 victories have now ensured the team a place in the Championship game this coming Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Beijing. The next 2 days will see the group rest and recover and take in the local sights and customs with some light practice sessions. More updates in a few days from Beijing.
