The Yao-led Chinese men's basketball team was beaten by the US "Dream Team 8" by 70-101 Sunday night, setting a record for the “smallest score distance” or (smallest margin) in China - US Olympic basketball competition history.

Yao Ming was interviewed after the match with CCTV.

Reporter: What do you think of the team's performance?

Yao: I think we did very well, though we lost the match. And I feel very proud of my teammates. Right before the contest, all of the players rounded in a circle, putting our hands one on top of another and gave each other the courage by that. We were determined to shoulder the team up.

China's Yao Ming shoots the men's preliminary group B basketball match at the Olympic basketball arena during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008. [sohu.com]

Yao: It was a way of releasing the pressure. We face pressure in the Olympics, but as a player in the national team, we must find a way to overcome it.

Reporter: What are you going to do when you face other teams in the group?

Yao: What we should do is to play our best in every match, rather than thinking too much. We must be strong when facing our opponents, who are all elites.

Reporter: Say something to the audience.

Yao: I would like to say 'thank you' for all your support. The Olympics is a grand get-together of humanity. We will try our best all the way along.

(Collected and translated by Cai Shanshan)