The prognosis for Yao Ming's left foot is "very good," but it remains uncertain whether the Houston Rockets' center will be cleared to play in time for a pre-Olympics tournament, his agent said yesterday.

Agent John Huizinga said Yao had an exam yesterday that went well, but disputed reports that his client would play July 17-20 in the Stankovic Cup, a pre-Olympics tournament in Hangzhou, China.

"Everything is going very well," Huizinga said in a story Monday on the Houston Chronicle's Web site. "If he is cleared, he might have a chance to play, but it is much too early to talk about that schedule now."

Huizinga did not immediately return a telephone call message from The Associated Press.

Yao, 27, averaged 22 points and nearly 11 rebounds for the Rockets this season. But a stress fracture in his left foot sidelined him on February 27, and he hasn't played since.

Yao said he will not leave for China until the Rockets clear him to practice. On Monday, a team spokesman told the Houston newspaper that Yao is scheduled to meet with team doctors at the end of the month.

"The checkups have been very good," Huizinga said. "But it's much too early for him to be cleared."

Led by NBA all-star center Yao Ming and rookie Yi Jianlian, China's men's basketball team is looking to rewrite history at the Olympics.

Jonas Kazlauskas' side is hailed as the best Chinese national team ever, with two current NBA players and one former NBA regular in the form of Wang Zhizhi. Their Olympic goal is clear - to go beyond the quarterfinals and reach a new altitude at the Games.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily June 17, 2008)