Yao is back -- for 12 minutes

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Yao Ming scored 11 points during 12 minutes of play earlier today, giving his fans evidence that he’s all the way back from an injury. The Houston Rockets center played for the Chinese national team, which beat a Serbian squad, 96-72.

Yao entered the game six minutes into the first quarter, the Associated Press reported, drawing a huge ovation from a crowd in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. AP described Yao’s play in the four-team Stankovic Cup tournament as ‘a little rusty.’

The game marked Yao’s first game appearance since February, when a stress fracture in his left foot ended his NBA season. The injury had threatened to keep Yao from playing for the Chinese team during next month’s Beijing Games.

There are rumors that Yao is a candidate for the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch during the final leg into Beijing’s new National Stadium.

Yao shot 70% from the free-throw line, where he scored seven of his points, and grabbed four rebounds.

Xue Zhen, basketball editor for China’s Titan Sports newspaper, told AP that Yao’s appearance at the Stankovic Cup was a massive confidence booster for his fans and Games organizers.

‘This is Yao’s Olympic mission,’ Xue said. ‘His presence is extraordinarily powerful, and the team is built around him. Without Yao, China will become a totally different team.’

It is uncertain how much playing time Yao will get during upcoming games against Angola and Russia.

-- Greg Johnson