Former NBA superstar and basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming will not be making a stop-off in Singapore for the upcoming Merlion Cup this week.

Several media reports had circulated earlier this month that the Chinese basketball legend, whose Shanghai Sharks is set to participate in the Singapore-based invitational basketball tournament, would be in the island city-state for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday, September 20, according to The Strait Times.

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However, the Basketball Association of Singapore released an official statement on Tuesday morning stating that the eight-time NBA All-Star had more pressing matters to attend to and will not be available for the said event.

"The Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS) has just been informed that Basketball legend and owner of the Shanghai Sharks Yao Ming will not be coming to Singapore for the Merlion Cup," the statement said.

"In his capacity of owner of the Shanghai Sharks, there has been a change in schedule of key meetings with the Chinese Basketball Association, resulting in him forgoing the trip to Singapore," it reads. "Whilst this is unfortunate, BAS hopes to see him back in Singapore's shores in the near future. Meanwhile, be sure to catch Yao Ming's Shanghai Sharks take on some of the best teams in Asia at the Merlion Cup from 21 to 25 September at the OCBC Arena."

Yao Ming is the current team president of the Shanghai Sharks. The club finished 11^th in the last season of the Chinese Basketball Association. The team has won one CBA title in the year 2002.

The 2016 Merlion Cup will be held at the OCBC Arena from September 21 to 25 and will feature six teams from six different countries.

Besides the Shanghai Sharks, the other participating teams in the tourney are Philippines Mighty Sports, Seoul Samsung Thunders, Asean Basketball League (ABL) champions Westports Malaysia Dragons, Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor, and Singapore Slingers.

TagsYao Ming, merlion cup, chinese basketball association, basketball association of singapore, Basketball Hall of Fame, NBA, Shanghai Sharks