New coach: Yi set for Worlds; Yao's return still under cloud

QINGDAO, Shandong province - Bob Donewald Jr, the head coach of China's national basketball team, confirmed New Jersey Nets' Yi Jianlian would take part at August's World Championships in Turkey but said it was still too early to even contemplate Houston Rocket Yao Ming's return to Team China.

"Yi will be here. I am sure he will play at the World Championships. He is in America right now rehabilitating his shoulder. Once he get healthy with his shoulder, he'll start individual workouts," Donewald told China Daily in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Sunday, where China, in their first game under the American's guidance, defeated under-manned former Olympic champions Argentina 82-61. China also won their second matchup on Monday 74-57.

"As soon as he's ready to hit the floor, he'll come back to Team China, probably in the middle of July," Donewald said of Yi.