European champions Greece laid down a marker for the World Basketball Championships by winning the warm-up Stankovic Cup tournament, while China finally showed form in a consolation victory.

But there was bad news for France whose star player Tony Parker may miss the World Championships, which start in Japan on Saturday, after injuring a finger in an 86-74 win over Brazil.

Greece hammered Germany 84-47 in the final of the six-team tournament Tuesday, using their trademark teamwork, stifling defense and precision offense to leave Dirk Nowitzki's team flat-footed.

Coach Panagiotis Giannakis would have been thrilled with the performance as all 12 of his players scored, shooting 70 percent from the field and 53 percent from behind the arc.

Greece jumped out to an 18-10 lead at the end of the first quarter with sharpshooting forward Antonios Fotsis leading the way with five points in the period.

The Germans could never recover from the deficit, despite seven points from the Dallas Mavericks' Nowitzki in the first frame.

Nowitzki finished with just nine points, sitting down midway through the third quarter and never returning as grim-faced German coach Dirk Bauermann opted to rest his star for Saturday's Group B opener against Japan.

France claimed third spot with their win against Brazil, but it came at a price as San Antonio Spurs point guard Parker sprained a finger on his shooting hand.

Team doctors said it was not broken and a more thorough examination was necessary to determine the extent of the injury.

France found their range with a barrage of three-pointers in the third quarter to pull away after the teams had been deadlocked at 43-all at the halfway stage.

Parker opened the third quarter with a driving basket and a three pointer as Les Bleus rained down six treys in the period to take a 74-61 lead going into the final frame.

Phoenix Suns standout Boris Diaw, forward Mickael Gelabale and veteran sharpshooter Laurent Foirest also were in on the three-point act for France, who made 12 of 24 three pointers for the match.

In the fifth place play off, NBA All Star center Yao Ming scored the winning basket with less than three seconds to go as China squeaked past Australia 63-61.

Yao's hook shot in the lane sealed the victory for China, the hosts' first win in three attempts in the warm-up tournament.

The Houston Rockets star, recovering from a broken foot, finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds on the night as China prepare to face Italy in Group D play in Japan on Saturday.

The win was also the first for the reunited team of Yao and four-year NBA veteran Wang Zhizhi, who scored nine points and had four rebounds in his second game back after a knee injury.

"As long as we stay in our sets and stick to the game plan, I hope that we can get better and better with every game."
China got off to their best start of the tournament with Yao taking the game inside for seven first-quarter points as the hosts raced to a 23-9 lead at the end of the period.

Australia had trouble with China's big front line of Yao and fellow seven-footers Wang and Yi Jianlian, and the hosts continued to dominate into the third period opening up a 45-30 lead after three consecutive scores by Yao.

But the Boomers, led by 20-points and 10 rebounds from Milwaukee Buck center Andrew Bogut, came storming back with 14 straight points over the final seven minutes of the quarter.

By the end of the third period Australia had cut the lead to 48-46, as the crowd in the Kunshan gymnasium sat in stunned silence.

The fourth quarter was a back and forth affair, with both sides exchanging baskets, while committing a bevy of turn-overs.

But Wang scored six points in the final frame while Yao got four points, including the final basket.

Australia meet Brazil in their opening match in Japan in Group C play Saturday.

(AFP via China Daily August 16, 2006)