MANILA, Philippines - When news broke out that Yao Ming was due for a visit here, Filipino fans expected the popular 7-6 Chinese cager to be amiable and accommodating.
Most went home disappointed.
Yao, whose mien and NBA exploits endeared him to many, seldom smiled, got irritated at times, refused to sign autographs and rarely granted photo ops to the fans – and if he did, he frowned at them. He also talked to the media in Chinese when, as everyone knows, he could speak in English.
While watching the Shanghai Sharks exhibition game with Gilas PIlipinas Monday, he refused to be shot by a TV 5 cameraman.
After the Sharks dropped a 72-80 loss to Gilas Pilipinas, Yao shook his head and after acknowledging the crowd, he walked back straight to the locker room escorted by several security personnel.
Along the way, a lady reporter from TV 5, which aired the Gilas-Sharks game on a delayed basis, and her cameraman tried to get an ambush interview with Yao, only to get nixed.
To top it all, Yao went home yesterday morning, leaving the Sharks, who still had to close out their two-game exhibition match with a PBA selection last night.
“Only Yao Ming left this morning (yesterday),†said Richie Garcia, chair of the Philippine Sports Commission, which bankrolled Yao and the Sharks’ trip here.
In contrast, 7-3 Zhang Zhaoxu earned the admiration of fans, always accommodating and smiling as he gamely granted interviews.
“I see familiar faces, Filipinos are talented basketball players,†said Zhang, called Max by everyone.
Zhang, against whom Japeth Aguilar slammed two in-your-face dunks to the delight of the crowd Monday, played for the Chinese team that won the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.