BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The NBA Houston Rockets should 
have confidence in selecting Chinese star center Yao Ming with 
their first pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft at Madison Garden Square,
New York, said Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Commissioner 
Xin Lancheng.
   "The Rockets should have confidence in selecting Yao," Xin told
Xinhua on Wednesday. "They should see no obstacle."
   A press conference will be held by the Rockets late Wednesday 
to announce their decision on Yao, according to Yao's 
representative Eric Zhang.
   "The Rockets are going to announce that they will most likely 
select Yao with their first pick," Zhang told Xinhua.
   It seemed that the Rockets and the CBA had reached certain 
agreements on the 2.26-meter  center's play in the NBA but Xin 
preferred "common understandings" in his description of the 
situation.
   "The Rockets have had common understandings with us on drafting
Yao," Xin added.
   Yao needs a letter of clearance from FIBA, the sport's 
international governing body, with the consent of the CBA to play 
in the NBA, according to Eric Zhang.  But Xin said it would not be
necessary before the draft.
   "It (the clearance letter) is not necessary at the moment," Xin
said.
   Yao Ming and his representatives on Saturday reached "
Agreements in Principle" on how they would compensate the Shanghai
Sharks if any NBA team pick him in the draft.
   If the Rockets select Yao Thursday, he will become the first 
international player without American basketball program to be 
drafted as No.1 pick in the NBA history.  Enditem

   --By Sportswriter Wang Jingyu