Yao Ming aims to boost China
Republic of Ireland 3 (Derrick Williams 45’, Sean Maguire 52’, Callum Robinson 75’) All Whites 1 (Callum McCowatt 30’). HT: 1-1
China’s most famous sportsman Yao Ming is in Auckland hoping his nation’s women’s basketball team can bounce back from its shock loss from South Korea on Thursday.
The 38-year-old Ming, who is the president of the Chinese Basketball Association, is in New Zealand for the Olympic women’s qualifying tournament in Auckland.
But it wasn’t a great start for China, going down 81-80, and they’ll need to play better when taking on the Tall Ferns today.
‘‘I missed most because I was on a said.
‘‘I landed at the airport, opened my phone and saw that we were down 10 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
‘‘It was an unfortunate result, but it depends what chair you’re sitting at. But that’s a basketball game, exciting. Our girls are tough and strong and come back after one day’s rest.’’
Ming admitted he knows little about the Tall Ferns, who beat the Philippines 111-54 in their opening game on Thursday, but he did feel there is a unique style of basketball played in New Zealand, which he of the game plane,’’ Ming discovered during playing career.
‘‘I’ve had my own experiences playing against a lot of players, his illustrious
Olympic qualifying series schedule:
■ 3pm, Philippines v Korea; 5.30pm, China v New Zealand
■ 3pm, Philippines v China; 5.30pm, Korea v New Zealand.
Today:
Tomorrow:
teams, we all had to prepare for the pre-game haka, that’s very famous, but I know the girls don’t do that.
‘‘It will be very tough, New Zealand have their own style of play and other than playing against them, I enjoy watching them play on court.
‘‘It’s different and you can smell and feel the custom and coaching from where they’re from.’’
Ming, who at 2.29m tall, had a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, playing for the Houston Rockets for eight years and played a huge role in the growth of the game in China.
On Thursday, the Tall Ferns were much too strong for the Philippines. They led 24-17 after a competitive first quarter before the hosts, who have not qualified for the Olympics since the Beijing Games in 2008, went on a phenomenal scoring spree before halftime.
The second quarter got ugly for the Philippines, with the Tall Ferns winning it 36-11.
All 12 New Zealand players who got on court scored.