IMPRESSIVE FRIENDLY WIN FOR BRITS
08/13/2008 AN under-strength Great Britain got their summer off to an impressive start when they beat Belgium 80-64 in a friendly in Sardinia on Wednesday.

AN under-strength Great Britain got their summer off to an impressive start when they beat Belgium 80-64 in a friendly in Sardinia on Wednesday.

Former NBA forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu capped a superb GB debut by leading the way with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

And coach Chris Finch was all the more pleased given that he was without NBA draftees Andy Betts (back) and Joel Freeland (groin) as well as Chicago Bulls superstar Luol Deng who is waiting for insurance clearance.

Finch said: "It was a good game and a good first step for us. Like us, Belgium were not at full strength but they had a lot of experience in their side.

"We had a good effort from everybody, I used all 11 players, and Pops really dominated, especially in the second half. He was very strong on the boards and played great defence.

"But our goal is to qualify for the European Championships so there is a long way to go."

With three of his 14-man squad rested, only Eric Boateng failed to log significant minutes, being limited to a 90-second run-out.

Another GB debutant, Dzaflo Larkai, started his international career in style by scoring the game's first six points and, while the big men were key to GB's win, Finch was also pleased with his guards.

He added: "We had a solid game from Nate Reinking, I was pleased with Steve Leven and a lot of the youngsters did very well. We had a good game defensively from Nick George, Kieron Achara scored nine points in 13 minutes and Dzaflo had the first six points of the game."

GB started superbly and led 49-31 at the half before Belgium cut the deficit to five, leaving GB to power away in the fourth period.

The Brits out-rebounded Belgium by a mighty 40-19 margin and shot the ball well, hitting 61 per cent from two-point range and 5 of 10 from three-point.

Reinking hit three of four from three-point range while George hit five of his six shots and Mensah-Bonsu went 8/14.

However, on the down side, GB only made 65 per cent of their free-throws and committed 25 turn-overs.

Leading scorers: Mensah-Bonsu 20 (14 rebs), George 10, Achara 9 (6 rebs), Reinking 9, Sullivan 8.