Madrid stint for Wang; Rio for Haddadi

Playing in what could be his last Asian championship, former NBA center Wang Zhizhi is hoping to cap his career with a victory in the 27th Fiba Asia Championship here in Manila.

“I’ve been playing too long for the national team and it would be nice to end it with another trip to the world championship (in 2014 in Madrid),” said the 36-year-old Chinese skipper.

The first Chinese to suit up in the NBA when he signed up for Dallas more than a decade ago, Wang also had fond memories of Manila when the 7-foot banger played in the Asian junior championship hosted by the Philippines in 1995.

“Where’s Marlou Aquino? Is he still playing?” said Wang, who was a spindly 18-year-old back then when he first battled the boards with the 6-foot-9 Aquino.

While Wang is heading toward the twilight of his career, NBA veteran Hamed Haddadi wants another shot at the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

“It’s still far but I’m thinking about it,” said the 7-2 grinder who played for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns. “For now, it’s just a dream. The experience is different when you play in the Olympics.”

Aside from being the star figure in their 2009 Asian championship plum, Haddadi led Iran to the 2007 Fiba Asia Championship en route to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a first in Iran basketball history.