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Tuesday January 19th, 2010 STRAIGHT TO CHINA! RATIOPHARM ULM SPLITS TWO EXHIBITION GAMES IN CHINA! ratiopharm Ulm completed a fantatic trip to Chengdu China by splitting a pair of exhibition games against Beijing Aoshen Olympians this weekend at Chengdu Sports Institute. A terrific team-building and life experience, Ulm enjoyed a tour of Chengdu's respected Panda Bear breeding park while discovering a new culture and seeing a different lifestyle in Chengdu, China's fifth largest city with over 10 million population. Manning a roster featuring several Chinese national team players including former LA Laker guard Sun Yue, Beijing played host to the exhibition games in Chengdu as benefit for the relief efforts towards the 2008 earthquake in the region of Sichuan Province just 50miles from the center of the city. The weekend resulted in a memorable experience for ratiopharm Ulm on and off the floor. Game 1 Saturday January 16th, 2010 Beijing Aoshen Olympians 107 ratiopharm Ulm 101 Beijing Aoshen Olympians used a key late basket and capitalized on a late ratiopharm Ulm turnover to take a well-played and competitive 107-101 win Saturday night January 16th, 2010 at Chengdu Sports Institute in Chengdu China. Ulm started strong outscoring the hosts 35-24 after the first quarter. Excellent ballmovement and teamwork resulted in good shots as Ulm hit a high percentage from behind the three point arc. Quality production from several players triggered the run as Rocky Trice, Lee Humphrey and Sebastian Betz made plays in the first quarter. Building the double-digit early lead, ratiopharm Ulm established themselves in the game. The second quarter saw the Olympians strike back behind terrific three point shooting from forward Jin Xin. Point guard Sheldon Pace made several nice finishes in transition and Beijing's tall lineup began to show their strength on the backboard outrebounding Ulm. At the half, Beijing held a slim 57-56 lead. Fans in the arena and on GANSU TV were treated to an exciting second half. Ulm's team defense combined for 7 blocks in the game including Coleman Collins rejecting a breakaway layup from former LA Laker Sun Yue. Beijing edged ahead early in the third, but Ulm's Robin Benzing made several big buckets to pull his team back . Ulm's run forced a Beijing timeout as Head coach and former LA Laker Mike McGee huddled his team. Out of the timeout, Olympians stormed right back with a three from Sheldon Pace and a breakaway slam from Curtis Haywood to reclaim a one point lead. At the end of three, Beijing was up 84-81. Ulm worked back throughout the fourth as Rocky Trice and Coleman Collins collected big baskets and the German team narrowed the score to 97-96 on a strong Christian Burns drive with less than two minutes to play. But a big Sheldon Pace mid-lane finish and a costly Ulm turnover put the Olympians in position for the win and Beijing closed out the solid 107-101 victory. In the game, Ulm shot 52% from the floor making 14 of 36 threes (38%) and 13 of 16 free throws (81%) while dishing out 23 assists as a team. Beijing outrebounded Ulm 43-28 taking advantage of their size. Rocky Trice led Ulm's attack with an excellent 22pt performance followed by 17pt on five three's from captain Lee Humphrey and 17pt 4reb from Sebastian Betz. Beijing was led by Sheldon Pace with a strong 27pt 7ast 5stl night while Curtis Haywood added 15pt 9reb, center Zhang Songtao had 15pt 7reb and former LA Laker g Sun Yue produced 12pt 7reb in the win. to watch ratiopharm Ulm @ Beijing Aoshen Olympians click on this link
Game 2 Sunday January 17th, 2010 ratiopharm Ulm 108 Beijing Aoshen Olympians 97 Christian Burns posted 30pt 9reb 4ast powering a terrific team effort leading ratiopharm Ulm over Beijing Aoshen Olympians 108-97 in the second exhibition game Sunday January 13, 2010 at Chengdu Sports Institute in Chengdu China. Ulm started strong for the second game in a row opening an early lead behind excellent ball movement and sharp three point shooting. After one quarter, Ulm held a 29-18 lead. Finding their rhythm early, Ulm opened their first double digit lead in the first quarter before a string of five straight three point makes put Ulm up twenty in the first half. Christian Burns caught fire in the first half scoring 18pts in the first quarter sparking the early Ulm run. Outscoring Beijing 33-23 in the second, Ulm took a 62-41 lead into the halftime lockerroom. Maintaining their advantage throughout the third, three point shots from Lee Humphrey, Per Gunther, Robin Benzing and Sebastian Betz kept the Ulm offense producing. Ulm held a 91-65 advantage after three. Beijing trimmed the deficit in the early fourth pulling as close as 12 points before Ulm sealed the win on a strong three point drive and finish by point guard Per Gunther. As the final seconds ticked away, ratiopharm Ulm enjoyed a 108-97 win to close their two game exhibition road trip to China. As a team, Ulm shot 52% from the floor making 16 of 36 threes (44%) and 8 of 13 free throws (61%) while distributing 23 assists as a team. Ulm was much better on the boards in Sunday's second game as the big Beijing lineup outrebounded Ulm 47-46. After Christian Burns' big 30pt 9reb 4ast night, Robin Benzing drilled 3 of 6 threes scoring 19pt while Per Gunther hit a perfect 4 of 4 from three for 14pt, Coleman Collins finished with 14pt 7reb and Sebastian Betz added 10pt 4reb in the win. Sun Yue topscored for the Olympians with 24pt on a perfect 10 of 10 free throw shooting while Jamel Staten added an 18pt 10reb double double and Jin Xin chipped in 15pt for Beijing.
ratiopharm Ulm poses for a team picture in front of the team bus early Wednesday morning in a snowy Ulm Germany.
Air China flight part of a 21 hour one way trip to Chengdu China.
ratiopharm Ulm's Robin Benzing, Per Gunther and Christian Burns wait on steps in front of the Hotel Babao in Chengdu China for the team bus to arrive transporting them to practice.
ratiopharm Ulm in practice Friday afternoon at Chengdu Sports Institute.
Chengdu Sports Institute's arena proudly displays tournament advertisement.
Beijing Aoshen Olympians warmup.
ratiopharm Ulm GM Dr Thomas Stoll on the team bench with Panda bears.
ratiopharm Ulm assistant coach Tunde Adekola poses with a Beijing player prior to Sundays second game.
ratiopharm Ulm players pose with Chinese cheerleaders from Chengdu after Sunday's second game.
ratiopharm Ulm's Head coach Mike Taylor and topscorer Rocky Trice meet the Chinese media at a post game press conference after Saturday's first game in Chengdu.
ratiopharm Ulm players Christian Burns and Sebastian Betz sign autographs for the Chinese fans outside the arena at the team bus.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Coleman Collins is mobbed for his autograph by exciting Chinese fans after Sunday's second game in Chengdu.
Chengdu's shopping district on a busy Friday evening.
Wolrd famous Panda research facility in Chengdu
West Pearl Tower, Chengdu China Chengdu at night Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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