Jiangsu, Beijing and Guangdong teams swept their respective
opponents 3-0 to make the semifinals of the China Basketball
Association (CBA) league on Sunday evening.
The other semifinal spot will be decided between Bayi Rockets
and Liaoning Hunters. The Rockets lead 2-1 in the best-of-five
series after winning the away match 110-90 on Sunday.
In Nanjing, Jiangsu Dragons dominated the match over
Xinjiang Flying Tigers from the very beginning, leading
the first period 25-19 en route to sealing the series with a 93-74
home victory.
Carlos scored game-high 26 points for Jiangsu, while three of
his teammates contributed double digits each as Tang Zhengdong,
Zhang Cheng and Yi Li made 19, 18 and 16 apiece.
Colemann led the visitors with 22 points, and Xue Guoyu and
XueYuxiang combined for 24 points.
In Kunming, the Beijing Ducks swept the series with two home
games in idle, winning the away game 104-96 over Yunnan Bulls.
Mengke Bateer, the former NBA player, again became the driving
force with game-high 35 points and 17 rebounds. Teammate Zhang
Yunsong also contributed greatly with 23 points, including four
three-pointers.
Honghe were out-rebounded 47-34 and had to concede the defeat
although both Yu Junkai and Joen Smith made 27 points apiece.
In Jilin, Guangdong Southern Tigers also won the
series by beating Jilin Northeast Tigers 99-86 as the trio of Zhu
Fangyu, Du Feng and Yi Jianlian combined for 58 points, including
six of the seven3-pointers made by the visitors.
Roderick Gragoirre led the home side with 20 points, but his
efforts were unable to stop Guangdong from sweeping the series as
only two of his teammates made double digits throughout.
In another game, Liaoning Hunters lost to Bayi Rockets 110-90
and will have to win the last away games to make the
semifinals.
Mo Ke led the Rockets with 22 points, while Li Ke and Hu Ke
added 17 points apiece, and Wang Zhongguang and Zhang Jinsong also
combined for 24 poitns.
Liu Xiangtao scored the game-high 36 points for the Hunters, who
lagged behind the Rockets 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
In the best-of-five semifinals, Jiangsu Nangang will play
Guangdong Hongyuan, while Beijing Ducks face the winner between
Liaoning Hunters and Bayi Rockets.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2006)