Yao Ming in Manila for friendship games

MANILA - Former Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming arrived in Manila Saturday evening for friendship games at the invitation of the Philippine Sports Commssion (PSC).

During the visit, Yao Ming, former NBA star, will lead a basketball clinic for poor children in Pasig in Metro Manila, the country's capital region, on Sunday.

Yao and his Shanghai Sharks, which came to the country a day earlier, will hold two exhibition games respectively with the Smart Gilas Team and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Selection on Monday and Tuesday, according to Chinese embassy officials.

Yao will also pay a courtesy call to Philippine Vice-President Jejomar Binay who is to spare time from a provincial campaign sortie at the Coconut Palace in Pasay city on Monday.

The 2.26-meter-tall star played nine seasons with the Houston Rockets in the NBA. His basketball career ended when foot, ankle and knee injuries forced him to retire in 2011 and concentrate on a string of successful nonprofit and business enterprises.

The group is to stay in the country until May 8. The visit was planned last year as part of the China-Philippines Years of Friendly Exchanges, but later postponed.