CHN - Wang Zhizhi has chance to shine for Yao-less China

DOHA (Asian Games) - International superstar Yao Ming won’t be hitting those short jump shots for China, but Jonas Kazlauskas’ unit is still the team to beat at the 2006 Asian Games.

Looking to confirm their dominance as the continent’s top side ahead of the Beijing Olympics, China will use this event as a tune-up for the 2008 Summer Games and they will have to go into battle without Yao, a center with the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

Yao averaged a tournament-leading 25.3 points per game at the FIBA World Championship, and in the NBA this season he is pouring in 26.4 points per contest.

His unavailability presents Wang Zhizhi with a golden chance.

Wang was the first player from China to sign an NBA contract but never really made it in the league.

He was dropped by his national side in 2002 after choosing to remain in the US to improve his NBA prospects instead of joining up with China for their workouts ahead of the Busan Games.

Wang mended fences with China this summer and rejoined the side for the FIBA World Championship in Japan and scored 8.2 points per contest.

All eyes will also be on Yi Jianlian, the pride of CBA champions Guangdong, who only turned 19 last month and he is a player who is full of promise.

Yi has been on top form in the CBA and he has a chance to cement his place in the side ahead of the Olympics.

Liu Wei returns as playmaker while Zhu Fangyu and Wang Shipeng are Kazlauskas' main outside threats.

Wang Shipeng famously his a buzzer-beating three-pointer against Slovenia to send China into the eight-finals this summer in Japan.

“The Asian Games are not going to be easy,” said Kazlauskaus in Qatar’s Peninsula newspaper. “We have a lot of preparation to do.

“You cannot say that we will win easily. Last time, South Korea won. We still have a lot of young players.”

Of those youngsters, the one who is causing the biggest stir is point guard Chen Jianghua.

Chen, who is just 17 years of age, played in all six of China’s games in Japan.

China have made the final in each of the past seven Asian Games and won five titles - but South Korea captured gold in 2002.

And that happened after a thrilling overtime win against China.

Korea's top big man, 2.23m giant Ha Seung Jin from the Milwaukee Bucks system will be on hand in Qatar.

He will be supported in the low post by Kim Joo Sung and Seo Jang Hoon.

The 22-year-old Yang Hee Jong is a highly-touted versatile top prospect on the wing.

And 1.75m playmaker Kim Seung Hyun has plenty of quickness and smarts while also providing leadership.

Korea are out to show their 2002 gold was no fluke. A 1982 championship, five silver medals and a 1990 bronze over the previous seven Games make the Koreans believe they are real contenders.

Asian Games hosts Qatar surprised many observers by advancing to the FIBA World Championship in Japan but were drawn in the hardest pool, Group C, against heavyweights Greece, Australia, Turkey, Lithuania and Brazil.

Joey Stiebing's team stormed into a 28-12 lead against Greece, the European champions, in their opener but failed to hold on and ended up losing all five of their games.

There are two big reasons to thing Stiebing’s men could be on the podium in Doha.

The competition will not be as stiff as in Japan, and the home crowd will be behind them this time.

Sharp-shooters Saad Abdulrahman Ali and Ali Turki Ali are Qatar's top threats while Erfan Ali Saeed and Omar Abdelkader Salem provide the bulk in the post needed to challenge the likes of Ha and Wang.

Lebanon went through a horrific run-up to Japan with political instability in the region yet nearly advanced from the first round.

The all-round game of Fadi El Khatib makes them dangerous. Much will depend on Joseph Vogel’s ability to deal with Asia's top centers.

Rony Fahed proved at times in Japan that he can help El Khatib with the scoring duties, and Brian Beshara will be called upon to deliver on defence just as much as on offence.

The Japanese came within a whisker of advancing to the eight-finals at the FIBA World Championship but lost to New Zealand.
Croatian Zeljko Pavlicevic did a fine job but his contract expired and is no longer at the helm.

Japan are now led by Kimikazu Suzuki, the coach of JBL side Aisin Sea Horses.

He has the likes of veterans Kenichi Sako, Atsushi Ohno, Takuma Watanabe, Fumihiko Aono and American naturalised center Eric McArthur.

Takehiko Orimo, the Takeuchi twins Joji and Kosuke as well and slasher Ryota Sakurai all played this summer at the World Championship and will be in Doha.
Other teams looking to challenge for some hardware are 2002 bronze medalists Kazakhstan, Jordan, Iran and Afghanistan.

Even though the Asian Games officially begin on December 1, the men's basketball competition starts with first round games on November 23. The second round tips off on November 30.

By PA Sport