The wait is over

IT'S THE DAY local basketball fans have been waiting for. Tonight 22-year-old NBA superstar Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets will play for the Chinese national team against Australia's Melbourne Tigers at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

He will be joined by the Toronto Raptors' Mengke Bateer for the exhibition match which is part of the post-Sars Re-launch Hong Kong Campaign.

The China team thrilled fans in an exhibition game and skills challenge at Southorn Stadium yesterday. Read more about it tomorrow.

Star players' profiles:

YAO MING

Position: centre

Date of birth: September 12, 1980

From: Shanghai

Height: 7 feet 5 inches

Weight: 296 lbs

Team: Houston Rockets

MENGKE BATEER

Position: centre

Date of birth: November 20, 1975

From: Mongolia

Height: 6 feet 11 inches

Weight: 290 lbs

Team: Toronto Raptors