Bulls Center Gong Xiaobin Out of CBA Semi-finals

Home>>Sports

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 03, 2002

Bulls Center Gong Xiaobin Out of CBA Semi-finals

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Shandong Flaming Bulls center Gong Xiaobin will miss the rest of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) semi-finals due to injury to his arm, said Shandong coach Ye Peng Tuesday in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

"Gong has not come to Ningbo with the team," Ye told Xinhua. " He is staying in Shandong."

Gong, who averaged 18.0 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Bulls in the regular season, scored 26 points before pulling the ligament in his right arm in the third period of Shandong's 105- 102 defeat to the Bayi Rockets. The Rockets, who have won all the six previous CBA finals since the league's foundation in 1995, led the best-of-five semi-finals 1-0.

The 32-year-old Gong, a former Chinese international, averaged 24.8 points and 7.5 rebounds to lead the Bulls over the Beijing Ducks 3-1 in the quarter-finals.

Shandong will also miss their top scorer Liu Tie in their second semi-final clash with the Rockets on Wednesday. Liu, who averaged 19.7 points for the Bulls in the regular season, had his finger broken in the second game of the quarter-finals and was out for the rest of the season.

Despite the major injuries, the Bulls vowed to fight to the end.

"We will never give up," said Ye Peng. "We will do our very best in the rest of the semi-finals."

The Rockets whitewashed the Bulls 3-0 in the 1999-2000 semi- finals and led 5-2 in their encounters for the last three seasons.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Shandong Loses Pivot Gong Xiaobin

Shandong Fail to Tamble Defending Champions in CBA Semi-finals

Bayi, Shandong Advance into Final Four of China Basketball