Former NBA player Yao Ming (L) of China AFP FILE PHOTO
In a very eventful Friday which saw the Philippines lose the 2019 FIBA World Cup hosting bid to China and the PBA return of Jimmy Alapag, the news which floored Asi Taulava the most was when he heard Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming was asking for his jersey.
“I feel flattered by that. I feel humbled. I guess I left a great impression on him in 2002,” the 42-year-old big man said.
Taulava played toe-to-toe against Yao, most memorably in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, and proudly held himself despite the eight-inch difference.
That faceoff, Taulava said, has left a great impression on him that he has a portrait of him posting up Yao in his TV room at home. “That was my only made shot against him because he blocked the next five shots. And I was like telling coach Jong (Uichico), ‘Take me out! This guy is killing me!’ It was fun and it was a great experience.”
The NLEX center, though, has nothing but respect for the 7-foot-5 center.
“He’s a great guy. You can’t say much about him. He’s such a big figure in China and in the NBA. When I saw the tweet, I almost collapsed. Does Yao want a jersey from an old man? It’s one of the most humbling feelings in the world. I’m lost for words. When somebody says something like that, what can you say?” he said.
Taulava, though, is willing for a trade, saying, “I do want one of his China jerseys. I don’t want his Rockets jerseys. I’m a Laker fan. I’ll trade off, give one of my Philippine jerseys and get one of his Chinese national team jerseys, put it up there in my TV room.”