Star Snippets: Yao Ming, JC Intal, Shin Yong-rok …..

January 12, 2010 | Posted by benjie

China’s basketball superstar Yao Ming has hinted that he won’t play for the FIBA-World Championship in Turkey this year. The 7-foot-6 Center who also plays for the Houston Rockets in the NBA said that he can not play competitive basketball until July, the time when the teams are on their crucial preparations. 2010 FIBA-Worlds will be held on August 28 – September 12.

**********

Forwards JC Intal of Ginebra Gin Kings and Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty are both voted as week’s best in the ongoing KFC-PBA Philippine Cup. Intal, the 6-foot-4 standout from Ateneo de Manila averaged 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2 assists leading his team to a couple of victories over Alaska Aces and Talk N’ Text Phonepals. Williams, on the other hand, averaged 20 points, 18 rebounds and 2.5 assists helping the Realtors secure an outright quarterfinals seat.

**********

South Korea’s Shin Yong-rok has reportedly signed with the Siberian club FC Tom Tomsk in the Russian Premiere League. He last played for Bursapor in the Turkcell Super Lig and declared himself free agent in October after the Turksih club failed to honor its commitment. The 22-year old native of Seoul joins fellow South Korean Kim Nam-il in the team.

**********

Ji Hoon Kim of South Korea is scheduled to face Tyrone Harris of the United States on February 12 in California, US. The 5-foot-9 native of Goyang City is arguably the best in his division in Korea. He will fight in the US soil for the third time in his career. He hopes to continue his streak of KOs dating back to December 2006. Kim’s record currently stands at 19-5-0 with 16 KOs.

**********

Takashi Miura will face fellow Japanese Seiichi Okada on Febraury 6 in Tokyo. The scheduled bout is for the Japanese Super Feather weight title. Miura hopes to improve his current record of 17-1-2 with 14 KOs as he lands among the top ten in his division in boxrec.com rankings.