Big names like Yao Ming and Manu Ginobili would like to take the
vacation to nurse their injuries, rather than competing in the
inaugural Stankovic Continental Champions Cup.
The Cup, which is slated from July 26-31 at the Capital Stadium,
includes six continental champions - European champion Lithuania,
Africanchampion Angola, Oceanian champion Australia, South American
champion Argentina, North American champion Puerto Rico and Asian
champion China.
Dr. Carl Men Ky ching, President of the world basketball
governing body FIBA, had promised the best players of the six
champion teams would play in the competition last month when he
announced China to hold the event.
Houston Rockets' center Yao Ming had come back from the U.S.
onJuly 11, but he will not play in the competition because he
underwent an ankle surgery last month.
China's head coach Jonas Kazlauskas said Yao and captain Li Nan,
who issuffering a knee injury, will miss the competition, and the
date of Yao's return to the national team is not decided.
Athens Olympic champion Argentina rests San Antonio Spurs' guard
Ginobili at home after the Spurs won the NBA title last month.
Argentina head coach Sergio Hernandez said, "Manu had a long and
fatigue season in the NBA. He needs rest. We need him for (next
year's) world championships and another NBA title."
Puerto Rico plays without top player, NBA finalists Detroit
Pistons' guard Carlos Arroyo.
Lithuania sends a complete new squad to Beijing. None of their
players has experience in the Athens Olympic Games.
(Xinhua?News Agency?July 26, 2005)