Team USA powers past Asia Blue for huge second win in adidas Nations Camp

By Ian Chew

New Zealander Dion Prewster, hidden by his American defender, was instrumental for his team with confident ball-handling skills. He did add some dunks of his own against Team USA! (Photo 1 © Ian Chew/Red Sports)

Dallas, Texas, Friday, August 9, 2008 – Team USA took off. Literally.

Asia Blue had a glimpse of the superior athletic ability of the hosts when they were beaten 73-100 in a Pool A second game. The Americans took advantage of the tiring Asians in the fourth quarter to execute a bewildering variety of alley-oops, power dunks and behind-the-back passes to pull away for good.

It was not that Team Asia did not put up a fight, though. The scores were kept close in the first half as New Zealander Justin Edwards scored 19 of his 23 points to stun the favourites.

Yet coach Larry Krystkowiak’s (former head coach of Milwaukee Bucks) risky strategy of playing the three key players for the team throughout the game was always going to have its consequences.

Dion Prewster and Justin Edwards, both from New Zealand, as well as Aussie Liam McInerney sorely felt the effects of the game in the fourth quarter after gamely holding off the Americans until then.

Like a hunter sensing a wounded prey, the young United States team went on a fourth-quarter rampage, working the ball both inside and outside the paint.

Big American centre Josh Smith, standing at six feet nine inches, was unstoppable under the basket. He powered his way to numerous dunks off rebounds and was almost impossible to guard. At the same time, teammate Brandon Knight caught fire from beyond the three-point range, putting Team Asia’s defense under severe strain.

Although the margin of defeat was a huge 30-point differential, it was definitely a much improved performance by the Asian team. Singaporeans Calvin Chia converted all three of his free throws while Lin Shengyu scored a jumper to finally get on the score sheet. It was no surprise that Justin, Dion and Liam led Team Asia with 23 points, 12 points and 9 points respectively.

The Asian team has one more opportunity to record its maiden win when they play Team Africa on 9 August evening. Team Asia Blue will have its work cut out for them though, as they face up with two of the tallest players in the camp. Two Africans stand over seven feet tall!

For more stories about the adidas Nations Camp, see
Singaporeans Calvin Chia and Lin Shengyu struggle in Team Asia Blue’s loss to Canada in adidas Nations basketball Camp.

Despite the disparity in size, Taiwanese 1.7m guard Sung Yu-Hsuan took the ball directly to the hoop. He drew a smart foul on this play. (Photo 2 © Ian Chew/Red Sports)

Yu-Shuan proved his top scoring title in Taiwan was no fluke as he also scored through some accurate shooting. He finished with 9 points. (Photo 3 © Ian Chew/Red Sports)

The Asian team displayed commendable team spirit despite the lack of playing time for some players from South Korea and the Philippines. (Photo 4 © Ian Chew/Red Sports)