XINJIANG (FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016) - Without a doubt, Xinjiang Kashgar, known as the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), will be among the most intimidating teams when the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016 opens on October 8 in Chenzhou, China.

The main reason for that is how the club boasts of a truly menacing frontline that features former NBA player Andray Blatche and 2016 NBA Draftee Zhou Qi. Blatche, the only Filipino (naturalized) playing in the tournament, stands at 2.08m, while the lanky Zhou is a gargantuan 2.17m. That combination of size and length gives Xinjiang coach Li Qiuping a seemingly overwhelming advantage inside the paint and around the basket.

That’s not to say, however, that the pairing of Blatche and Zhou is all there is to Xinjiang. On the contrary, national pool members Makan Kelanbaike, Li Gen and Wang Zirui are sure to give the team added firepower, while American import Darius Adams will give them athleticism and explosiveness at the wings.

Of course, all those players will fill complementary roles to the towering tandem of Blatche and Zhou. Blatche gives the team a wicked, all-around offensive skill-set that makes him a terrifying match up for any defender. He can put the ball on the floor, hit the three and drive strong to the hole. Blatche logged 22.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 triples per game in the 2015-2016 season for Xinjiang. Zhou, meanwhile, specializes in defense, averaging 3.5 blocks per game in the previous CBA season. He will also be a force in rebounding and finishing around the basket, putting up 16.6 points and 9.6 boards per contest in 2015-2016.

If the supporting cast led by Adams, Li, Makan and Wang hit their stride and stretch the defense, things will open up and be easier for Blatche and Zhou to operate inside. That is certainly part and parcel of coach Li Qiuping’s gameplan for the tourney.

China have won a total of three Champions Cup titles, with the Bayi Rockets winning in the inaugural tournament in 1981, the Liaoning Hunters taking the crown in 1990 and Beijing Hanwei ascending to the throne in 1998. The Chinese are hoping to notch their fifth one here after having last participated in the tournament in 1999.

They are in Group B with Al Ahli of UAE, Al Shorta of Iraq, Barsy Atyrau of Kazakhstan and the Malaysia Dragons. Group A have Iran’s Petrochimi, Lebanon’s Al Riyadi, India’s ONGC, Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Chinese Taipei’s Pauian (Pure Youth Construction).

Xinjiang will play on opening day against Al Shorta, which is led by national team members Mohammed Al-Khafaji and Ali Ismael, as well as imports DeAndre Rice and Justin Hawkins.

FIBA