Feeling at home, Yao Vows to Beat S. Korea

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 30, 2002

Feeling at home, Yao Vows to Beat S. Korea

Feeling at home at the South Koreanport city of Busan, the 2002 NBA top draft pick Yao Ming vowed to beat the hosts in their possible final clash in the Asian Games' men's basketball.

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Feeling at home at the South Koreanport city of Busan, the 2002 NBA top draft pick Yao Ming vowed to beat the hosts in their possible final clash in the Asian Games' men's basketball.

"Busan lies against the sea and the climate is very comfortable," Yao Ming said here on Monday. "It is also moist here, just like my hometown Shanghai."

Yao eyed a final clash against South Korea, China's arch-rivals in Asia, and vowed to beat them.

"We will beat them if we meet them in the final," he said.

Defending champions China and hosts South Korea were considered the only title favorites in the 12-team basketball tournament.

According to Yao, the best inside players of Asia come from China, the country which has Wang Zhizhi and Meng Bateer playing in the NBA and Yao on the way.

"The South Korean team has pretty good forwards and guards," the 2.26-meter Yao said. "I also knew about Seo Jang-hoon and Kim Joo-sung, they play very good inside game. But I believe that China has the best inside players of Asia."

Yao, who has yet to sign his NBA contract after being picked bythe Houston Rockets as the top pick in June's NBA Draft, is likely to get the nod from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) to play in the NBA after the Busan Asian Games, according to a seniors ports official.

"Things concerning Yao's playing in the NBA will be made clear after the Asian Games," said Li Furong, deputy chef-de-mission of the Chinese Asiad delegation, at press conference Sunday morning.

The Chinese, who have secured a place in the quarter-final round, will take on Hong Kong of China in their last preliminary group A match later on Monday.

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