Hu Weidong, head coach of the Jiangsu baskeball club, will be promoted to the national men's squad.

China's Central TV reports that the veteran player will join the two other club coaches on the national coaching roster.

The other two coaches are Min Lulei from Beijing Ducks and A Dijiang from the army team Bayi Rockets.

Former assistant coach Jonas Kazlauskas from Lithuania will take the helm of the new national lineup.

A formal announcement is expected next week.

The men's national team will be in Beijing next month preparing for the Asian Championships.

The team will rally for a short period prior to the qualifiers of the 10th National Games. The players are expected to gather again in June for a two-week-long training camp before they embark on a warm-up tour.

They will first take on the visiting American Star Team for four matches across China from June 21 - 29.

They will then challenge European champions Lithuania as well as Brazil and New Zealand at a four-nation invitation tournament in mid-July.

(CRI April 6, 2005)