CHINESE FIXTURE HELPS DELIVER ON HIGH HOOPS

THE Gold Coast’s early taste of international basketball could not have gone any better as team China faced the Brisbane Bullets last night.

With the Commonwealth Games around the corner, hoops fans got an early sample of elite talent as the Chinese team completed their two-game tour Down Under.

Following a loss to Melbourne on Sunday, the Chinese team put on an entertaining show against the Bullets at Carrara, leading 28-22 at the first break.

The scores were locked at 43-43 at the main break as the Bullets’ young roster took it to their international rivals at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.

China, though, crept ahead 65-62 at the final change. The venue will host events including badminton at April’s Commonwealth Games, with basketball’s preliminary matches to be staged in Cairns and Townsville before the crunch games move to the Coast.

Last night’s fixture continued the Coast’s recent string of attracting elite international events.