DAVE FAVILA | Staff Writer
When the upcoming holiday break begins for cadets at Marine Military Academy, several of them will have to travel great distances in order to return home.
However, it may be hard to find anyone that will travel more miles than basketball players Zhongyuan Wei, Zhaoyang Zhang, Zheyuan Lin and Jinjie Yuan.
The young cagers’ designation? Northeast and East-central China – specifically, Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The four have been student-athletes for the MMA Leathernecks for the past few years, but admit that they are still adjusting to “small-town” life here in Harlingen.
However, whatever geographic or cultural differences they may face here in Deep South Texas, when they step out onto the hardwood they are no different than anyone else because, as MMA head coach Mo Molina says, “basketball is an international game that is played the same way no matter where you go.”
Q: How did you come to find about MMA and why did you decide to attend?
Wei (a junior who has been at MMA for 4 years): “My cousin came here before me and he told me about the school, and I like the military, too, so I decided to come here a year after he came.”
Zhang (a junior who has been at MMA for 3 years): “My parents’ friend invited me to this school and I like it.”
Lin (a junior who has been at MMA for 2 years): “At first, my parents just wanted to send me here for a year for the challenge, but after that first year here, I decided that I wanted to stay here until I graduate.”
Yuan: (a sophomore who has been at MMA for 2 years): “My parents found this place and said that a military school would be good for my future.”
Q: The rules of basketball may be the same, but are there any differences in the way the game is played in the Untied States compared to China?
Lin: “The players’ heights are much different. In China, the players are a little shorter. In China, I am big enough to play center, but here I’m not tall enough.”
Yuan: “But really, the game is the same. It’s all about teamwork and that’s the same in both countries.”
Q: What about the way sports in general is treated? Do you see a difference is the way Americans are about sports as compared to back home?
Wei: “Not really. Sports are international. The Chinese love sports just as much as people do here.”
Q: What are your future plans after graduation?
Wei: “My mom wants me to be a doctor, but I’m just not really sure yet.”
Zhang: “I don’t really know yet, but I think I’d like to be a businessman.”
Lin: “I have no idea, but I think I’ll major in economics once I get to college.”
Yuan: “I haven’t decided yet, but I’ve been thinking about getting into business.”
Q: How do you like Harlingen?
Lin: “It’s nice, but it’s a very small town compared to where we are all from. Very small.”
Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete?
Lin: “Kobe Bryant.”
Zhang: “LeBron James.”
Lin: “Allen Iverson.”
Yuan: “Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.”
Q: Who is the toughest Valley team you guys have played against?
All: “Lyford!”
Lin: “They are really good.”
Yuan: “They are all physically strong. Compared to them, I’m weak.”