JAKARTA – Asi Taulava has seen generations of Chinese national players from the time he first played for the Philippines in the Asian Games in 2002.
But Taulava said no one comes close to the Chinese legend in Yao Ming.
Taulava faced Yao during the 2002 Asian Games after the Philippines went up against China in a blowout loss. On Tuesday, Taulava was on hand when he saw emerging 7-foot-1 big man Zhou Qi, one of two NBA players in the team, finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and seven blocks in an 82-80 win over Gilas.
Incidentally, Yao was on the Chinese bench during the face-off in his new role as president of the Chinese Basketball Association.
The 45-year-old Taulava, however, still sees Yao as the better player compared to the current crop of Chinese players.
And it’s not even close.
“There is nobody in China that you can compare to Yao,” Taulava said. “They may be better but Yao, there will be no one in Yao’s level. Total NBA prospect, that’s why he is an All-Star. That’s why he is a Hall of Famer. Yao is just in a different class.”
Taulava though said he remained impressed with the 22-year-old Zhou's skills including his shotblocking ability, which is why Taulava is happy with the way Jordan Clarkson, Stanley Pringle, and Paul Lee drove hard to the basket despite being blocked many times during the game.
“That’s still a different class. But I love the young guys. He (Zhou) did a lot of damage. He changed the shots and blocked some shots. But one thing I saw, Stan (Pringle), JC (Jordan Clarkson), Paul Lee, they were not afraid even if their shot was blocked.
“We were one or two plays away from winning the game,” said Taulava.
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