FIBA Basketball World Cup Memorable Moments: Wang Shipeng's buzzer-beater

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There is nothing like a game-winning jump shot at the death to set the pulse racing of players, coaches and fans in international basketball.

Wang Shipeng drilled one for China in Sapporo, Japan, at the 2006 FIBA World Championship that provided the competition with one of its most memorable moments.

A three-point shooting marksman, Wang had endured a frustrating outing in a clash with Puerto Rico two games before that China lost, 90-87.

In the defeat, Wang had scored 13 points but missed all four of his attempts from the arc.

The narrow set-back left China with no wins in three attempts, and with their backs to the wall as they attempted to progress from the opening round.

They needed to prevail in their last two games to advance from the Preliminary Round.

Against Senegal in their next game, Wang got hot and nailed four of seven attempts to help fire China to a 100-83 triumph.

Then, in a must-win game against Slovenia, the two sides served up a treat, and Wang took center stage at the end.

Yao Ming had carried China on his back for most of the contest, scoring 36 points and corralling 10 rebounds, but the output wasn't enough to put the Asian team in control.

The contest wasn't decided until the last seconds.

After Slovenia guard Sani Becirovic split a pair of free-throws, Liu Wei lobbed the ball to Yao under the basket and he scored to knot the game at 75-75 with 31 seconds to go.

The European team then worked the shot clock down before Jaka Lakovic passed to Uros Slokar on the perimeter.

The big man dribbled to his right and as Wang Zhizhi got in front of him to stop his progression, Slokar changed directions and got into the lane to bury a go-ahead eight-footer with seven seconds to play.

Instead of calling a timeout, China inbounded the ball to Wang and he raced up the left side of the floor.

After crossing half court and with just a couple of seconds to go, Wang pulled up from several feet behind the arc on the left.

Despite being fronted by a couple of Slovenia players, including the giant center Primoz Brezec, Wang got off his shot and drilled it.

It accounted for his only points of the game.

China coach Jonas Kazlauskas and the rest of the players stormed the court to celebrate a 78-77 victory with Wang that allowed the Far East giants to leapfrog Puerto Rico into fourth place.

Yao had one of his best games in a China shirt, while Wang made sure his name would have a permanent place in FIBA World Championship history.

FIBA