China’s high five - THE GAME OF MY LIFE by Bill Velasco

In the midst of the interminable, simmering dispute over basketball leadership in the Philippines, things are falling into place for our perennial tormentor, China.

The Asian Basketball Confederation announced the selection of Shanghai, China’s commercial capital as the Host City for the 21st Asian Basketball Championship for Men slated from July 20 to 28, 2001, a stepping stone for the Chinese who have their sights fixed on the 14th World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"The CBA is honored that this great event has been awarded to China," gushed Xin Lan Cheng, executive vice-president of the Chinese Basketball Association. "It is likewise grateful to the Shanghai Sports Commission and the Shanghai Basketball Association who will play as hosts of the tournament."

Homecourt advantage, a tall lineup and a new coach will be China’s chief weapons as the Chinese eager to increase their Asian gold medal tally to twelve and repeat their successful title in the 1999 ABC Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.

Wang Fei, former national player and now coach of the Bay Rockets, champion of the Chinese National Basketball League, has been recalled to mentor the national team that will set out as prohibitive favorites in the star-studded field.

Wang is expected to rely heavily on China’s young and talented "Walking Great Wall" of 7-1 Wang Zhi Zhi, 7-6 Yao Ming and 7-0 Menk Bateer, and veteran small forward Liu Yudong and 1999 Asian MVP Hu Weidong.

The Sydney Olympics offered a foretaste of what the three are capable of. At 20, Yao averaged six rebounds a game (sixth overall) and 2.2 blocked shots (second only to the US’s Alonzo Mourning). Wang, meanwhile, normed 13.5 points, eight overall. Unfortunately, poor coordination and lack of a solid game plan under coach Jiang Xing Quan led them to a poor 10th place finish in Sydney.

"I think all three of China’s big guys can make it in the NBA," declared Ricky Barry, one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players and coach of an XNBA (retired NBA players) squad in an exhibition against the Chinese. "How many 7-1 guys do you see who are as athletic as Wang Zhi Zhi ? I mean think of the player pool they have to draw from —— nobody, not even the US, can match it."

Wang was drafted 36th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 1999, and may finally get to play in the NBA, presuming he overcomes the language barrier and obtains a release from the Chinese army. Yao’s mother team, the Shanghai Sharks, has indicated that if may allow him to enter the NBA draft. The 300- pound Menk, meanwhile , is foreseen as a back-up center of rebounding power forward in the NBA. Dominating Asia is already a foregone conclusion.

"China this year is a cinch to win the crown. I don’t think the Chinese would want to suffer the humiliation of losing in their own turf especially since China has not hosted the ABC Championship since it was held in Beijing in 1989," commented ABC President Carl Menky Ching.

All of this just means it has become tougher for the Philippines to even dream of placing in the ABC and squeaking into Olympics. If we already get a harsh reception in Taiwan for a club tournament like the Jones Cup, what more when we play China on its home soil? Could you imagine if Wang Fei played all three of his big men at the same time? Who do we have who could guard Wang Zhi Zhi at small forward?

As if that weren’t enough, Asia’s powerhouse is not wanting for more behemoths,either. Waiting in the wings are 7-1 Tang Zhengdong, an 18-year old prodigy from Jiangsu Province, and 7-0 Zue Yuyang from Henan, a 19-year old reportedly possessed of a complete game. Add them to Wang, Yao and Menk, and you could say China really has a high five.