Giant center Sun set to play in Mexico
MONTERREY, Mexico: Sun Mingming, the 2.36m (7ft 9in) Chinese giant who is the world's second-tallest man, will continue to work on his dream of reaching the National Basketball Association in Mexico.
Sun was to sign a deal with Mexico's Fuerza Regia and appear yesterday at a news conference, the team announced on its website, displaying photographs of Sun to highlight the enormity of the club's acquisition.
"After coming and going for four months, we are very happy because we arranged everything to have Ming at Fuerza Regia," a team statement said.
Sun plays for the Grand Rapids Flight of the International Basketball League after toiling for the Maryland Nighthawks of the American Basketball Association, both development leagues for those who dream of an NBA career.
The Flight have struggled to a 5-17 record so far this season but Sun scored a career-best 19 points in his last start and will receive greater acclaim in August when he will be seen in the latest Jackie Chan movie, "Rush Hour 3".
The 2007-2008 Mexican season begins September 6 and will mark a full year of play for Sun in various North American leagues. He is expected to move to Monterrey in the first week of July once his US club's season has ended.
"In the contract, we've set that he has to come here at least one or two months before preseason training," Fuerza president Sergio Ganem said. "He will have a special bed, clothes and shoes."
Sun, who turns 24 in August, moved from China to the United States in 2005 but struggled with fitness and stamina problems.
A tumor was discovered near his pituitary gland and it took surgery in 2005 and 2006 to remove the tumor and give him a fighting chance to achieve his NBA dream.
AFP
(China Daily 06/21/2007 page18)
