NBA star Yao Ming says Shanghai Sharks will go all out against Smart Gilas today

As the big boss in an elegant suit behind the bench, former NBA great Yao Ming doesn’t want to spot a half-hearted play on the floor.

So don’t expect his Shanghai Sharks to go easy on Smart Gilas in a “friendly” encounter tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We fully respect our opponent by preparing for this,” said Yao through an interpreter. “We need games like these to build the future of the team.”

Coach Chot Reyes has lined up a towering frontline for the Gilas national five to counter the Sharks’ claustrophobic presence in the paint led by 7-foot-3 Zhang Zhaoxu, Zheng Yali (6-11), Wu Yang (6-10) and Wang Yong (6-9).

Seven-footer Greg Slaughter, Junmar Fajardo (6-foot-11), naturalized center Marcus Douthit (6-10) and Japeth Aguilar (6-9) have been assigned to neutralize Shanghai’s height advantage.

“We watched some of the (Gilas) games and I’m expecting them to play with a full lineup tomorrow (today),” said Sharks coach Wang Chun.

Preparing for the Fiba Asia Championship here in August, the Nationals will also be bannered by PBA stars Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan and Gary David while Reyes will fill up the roster with cadet team members in the 7:30 p.m friendly organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Amateur dribblers Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete, Matt Ganuelas, Jake Pascual and Ronald Pascual are up for a tall challenge against the Chinese ballclub owned by Yao.

“We all love to see the improvement of the sport in Asia. That’s the only way we can evolve and increase the level of play in the region,” said Yao, who put China and the rest of Asia on the NBA map.

The 7-foot-6 Yao played for the Sharks from 1997-2002 and gave the Chinese Basketball League franchise its first title on his last year before applying for the NBA Draft.

Now a team owner, the eight-time NBA All-Star and Fiba Asia Championship MVP from 2001-2005 sees satisfaction in his job and won’t pick up his sneakers anytime soon./inquirer