Point guard Liu Wei has been invited to join the NBL of Australia for its All-Star game next month.

The 25-year-old player said he was happy to be invited to NBL All-Star game and would try to go all out to demonstrate the strength of Chinese players.

"I won't let the local Chinese fans down," says the All-Star player.

Reports say the 1.90-meter guard aroused the attention of the Australian basketball league administration in August when he was part of China's team at the Four-Nation Tournament in Australia.

Liu was a teammate of China's super star Yao Ming on the Shanghai Sharks to win the domestic CBA champion. He attended the training camp of the NBA Sacramento Kings last season but was not signed for the season.

Another Chinese player, Tang Zhengdong, was invited to play for the Australian NBL team the Melbourne Tigers a year ago but was unable to leave.

(CRI November 7, 2005)