Fiba Asia: New star on the rise for China in Zhou Qi

CHANGSHA CITY, China – There are some veterans missing in the Fiba Asia Olympic Qualifier here, the likes of Fadi El-Khatib of Lebanon and Oh Se-keun of South Korea.

Jimmy Alapag, one of the most charismatic international stars the Philippines has even had, is also not in the championship after so many years, bidding it adieu after trying a comeback in the Jones Cup.

But there are new faces who are lighting it up here, with reedy 7-foot Chinese center Zhou Qi showing the biggest potential towards becoming Asia’s next cage superstar.

A 19-year-old, Zhou was the biggest reason why the Chinese dodged the South Korean axe on Thursday evening, shooting 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter of a come-from-behind 76-73 win.

Yi Jianlian, the former Milwaukee Buck in the NBA, remains to be the biggest star in the Chinese national team.

But not on that night.

“Everybody knows his talent and potential. It has been that way for a long time now,” said China coach Gong Luming, a former national team superstar himself. “He showed everyone that he can also handle the pressure.”

There have been several Chinese players to have made it to the NBA as well as other Asians, but Zhou seems to be the next best bet and a matchup headache for the opposition the rest of this championship.