Defending champion China will send a second-string national team to compete in the Asian Basketball Championships (ABC) in Japan next week.

The first team will compete in the Stankovic Continental Champions Cup in Guangdong, almost the same period as the ABC, which starts on July 28.

Without a national player, the Chinese team does not expect to reign in the championship.

"The strongest opponents come from West Asia, like Lebanon and Qatar," head coach Adijiang said on Wednesday. "The Philippines has become a challenge too since it introduced some former American professional players."

The Chinese squad has no advantage inside the key as pivots like Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi are in the first team.

"Actually we have no center in this squad and our guards are smaller than the West Asians. It'll be a tough journey," Adijiang said.

All-Star point guard Zhang Qingpeng was cut from the squad a couple of days ago because of the lack of inside players.

"This could be one of the toughest Asian championships for China," Adijiang added.

Squad:

Head coach: Adijiang

Assistant coach: Wu Qinglong, Zhang Xiaochun

Players: Wang Bo, Li Ke, Chen Lei, Bian Qiang, Yang Ming, Yi Li, Chen Chen, Han Shuo, Wang Yong, Gu Liye, Zhang Kai, Wu Qian.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2007)