BEIJING—Remember Ma Jian?

Ma was a member of the Chinese men’s national basketball team that Filipino cage stars in the late 1980s and early 1990s dreaded.

The BusinessMirror caught up with Ma Jian Monday night at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.

Asked what he remembers about the Philippines, Ma Jian replied: “Oh, of course, Jaworski. The rest I no longer recall the names, but if I see their faces, I will readily recognize them.”

Ma Jian was a member of the 1990 Beijing Asian Games team that denied the Robert Jaworski-coached RP squad of Philippine Basketball Association players the gold medal. Jaworski was the nationals’ playing coach and with him on the team were Ramon Fernandez, Allan Caidic, Chito Loyzaga, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim and Yves Dignadice, among others.

Ma Jian was basically the first Chinese to step on American soil and play organized basketball. He defied then-strict Chinese policies and played for the University of Utah from 1993 to 1995, and was on the preseason roster of the Los Angeles Clippers before being the last player to be cut.

He later served as commentator for the Clippers on a Chinese radio station. Ma also played for the Beijing Olympians in the Chinese Basketball Association until the 2000-01 season.

Now, Ma Jian has been tapped as manager of the 18,000-seat Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, venue of the basketball competitions of the 29th Olympics.

With Ma Jian on that 1990 Asian Games team were Song Li Gang, Song Tao (who was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1986) and Wang Fei.

After Ma Jian, Wang Zhizhi, Menk Bateer and the now famous Yao Ming have made it to the US National Basketball Association.

Tshomlee eyes repeat over Aussie

BEIJING—The country’s eyes will all be on Tshomlee Go beginning at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday when he opens his campaign for an Olympic gold medal in taekwondo against Australian Ryan Carneli at the University of Science and Technology Gymnasium.

Left knee buckles, frustrates Torres

BEIJING—Maristella Torres was in high spirits, vowing to make the best out of her first Olympics stint. But her flesh, particularly her left knee, didn’t cooperate.

Ramirez stresses ‘revolutionary’ change

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez has reiterated that changes which he called “revolutionary” should be done to Philippine sports after the Olympics.

Visa benefits 22 Filipinos

BEIJING—Twenty-two Filipino Visa card-holders are in Beijing enjoying the action in the 29th Olympic Games.

Ma Jian, now a stadium boss, remembers ‘Jawo’

BEIJING—Remember Ma Jian?

Ma was a member of the Chinese men’s national basketball team that Filipino cage stars in the late 1980s and early 1990s dreaded.

Far Eastern Games helped build up China

CHINA has definitely gone a long way in sports since it first participated in an international competition in Manila 95 years ago.

‘I HAD NO CHOICE’

BEIJING—Liu Xiang, China’s great hope for track glory at the Beijing Games, said he was sorry for his dramatic withdrawal from the Olympics, but that he had no choice because pain from a foot injury became unbearable.

Just Another Fan

BEIJING—If the basketball competition is assuming an old pattern, with the United States dominating and attention shifting elsewhere, the US players, superstars all, are still the lives of this party.

Ask Coach E: Going international

This writer is not so much a music fan, but as a Filipino it was a joy to learn that two Filipinos attracted the American eyes, or ears, for that matter, through the cyberspace.