Enter the Yao...




May 5 was not the usual Sunday for me for I have to attend a 7 a.m. press conference some 30 or so kilometers away from my bed.

 It was an unusual press conference since most event organizers hold it either at 9 a.m. (the earliest) to 7 p.m. Waking up early was worth it, since Sunday's presser was intended for a big, rather huge sports celebrity: China's Gentle Giant Yao Ming.

 Holding the presser/event/breakfast with the former NBA Star at Solaire Resort was the right decision since Yao's 7-foot-6 frame can move freely in the spacious Grand Ballroom.

Yao, a former member of China's dreaded Walking Great Wall (along with fellow ex-NBA cagers Mengke Bateer and Wang Zhizhi), is in Manila as part of the Philippines-China Basketball Friendship Games.

The former Houston Rocket, arguably China's biggest (no pun intended) sports import, brought with him the Shanghai Sharks—the 2001-2002 Chinese Basketball Association champion and perennial title contender in the Chinese pro league.

The Sharks will play an exhibition game against the rebooted version of coach Chot Reyes' Gilas Pilipinas. It will be a good tune-up match for Gilas since two Sharks, skipper Liu Wei and 7-foot-3 big man Zhang Zhauxu, are also members of China's men's national team.

 The Philippine men's national team is preparing for the Fiba-Asia Championship, which the country is hosting in August. 


The Sharks, who also held a basketball clinic for street kids at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, will then meet an All-Star selection of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Too bad the 32-year-old Yao, a three-time Fiba-Asia champion, retired from playing basketball in 2011, for I was hoping to see his post-up plays in the flesh.

Yao is not always pensive and knows how to play with the crowd during the Q&A portion with Filipino sports writers.

Here are Yao's answers that elicited laughter from the mixed group of Chinese and Filipino journalists: He said that he's willing to play but the Sharks failed to bring a uniform that could fit him; Flip a coin, when asked which NBA team will emerge as champions; and for the Philippines to return to the Fiba World Championship or Olympics: Beat China.

I've covered Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant's Manila stop twice. Had the chance to see and interview some of the NBA legends like Robert Horry, Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Tim Hardaway, Gary Payton, Glen Rice, Dominique Wilkins and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Add Yao Ming to that list. Too bad I failed to cover the Manila stop of Mugsy Bogues, Rajon Rondo and Gilbert Arenas. Now, that would be another great story for my future grandchildren.

Comments

  1. Ismael S. MaelMay 6, 2013 at 9:27 PM

    Napanood ko 'to sa TV. Akala ko may kasamang pet monkey si Yao Ming na pinag-dribol niya sa harapan niya para magpa-cute.

    Si Vice President Jejomar Binay pala 'yun.

    www.akomael.tumblr.com

    ReplyDelete

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