Last year's CBA postseason champions Guangdong Southern Tigers
reached the playoff finals after sweeping host Jiangsu Dragons
93-88 on Wednesday with a 3-0 aggregate.
Guangdong tied Jiangsu at 28 after the first stanza, trailing
49-48 into the locker room. But the two imported foreign players,
Dixon Jason and Greene Terrence, shined in the third quarter,
combining 25 points in the twelve minutes to lead the Southern
Tigers to a 76-65 advantage after the third period.
Dixon Jason had game-high 29 points and Terrence added 22 points
in the win. Yi Li paced the Dragons with 17 points in the loss. He
also handed seven blocks in the game. Center Tang Zhengdong put in
16 points and Meng Da netted 13.
After this game, it will be Guangdong's fourth consecutive
appearance in the league's playoff finals.
Guangdong's head coach Li Chunjiang said, "I'm so glad to see we
enter the finals, it doesn't matter who will be the next, either
Bayi or Beijing."
Another semi-final on Wednesday featured North Conference
leaders Beijing Ducks playing against the traditional powerhouse
Bayi Rockets.
Host Bayi won the game 82-78 to lead the series 2-0.
Mo Ke and Li Nan of the Rockets ended in a double-double with 21
points and 15 rebounds. Li Nan contributed 18 points, including
9-of-9 from the charity strip, five rebounds and six assists. Zhang
Jinsong and point guard Wang Zhongguang added 11 and 10 points for
the host team.
Mengke Bateer had team-high 22 points and 14 rebounds while
Williams Nate erupted for 19 points and 14 boards in defeat for the
Ducks.
Game 3 is slated for Thursday night in Ningbo.
(China.org.cn April 6, 2006)