Liu Scores 56 to Lead Rockets into CBA Finals

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, April 06, 2002

Liu Scores 56 to Lead Rockets into CBA Finals

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Liu Yudong scored 56 points here on Friday to lead defending champions the Bayi Rockets rally past the Shandong Flaming Bulls 116-101 and through to the 2001-2002 season Chinese Basketball Association ( CBA) League finals with a 3-0 record.

The Rockets, who have won all the six previous CBA championships since the league's foundation in 1995, will play the Shanghai Sharks in the best-of-five finals.

Liu Yudong, who averaged 36.4 points in the regular season to lead all the CBA scorers, had 21 points to lift the home side to a 26-11 run late in the third quarter which made it 87-80 before the final quarter.

Liu, who made 24-of-34 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line, was only one point short of his career high and season high.

Li Dongliang came from the bench to score six points in the Rockets' 12-2 run to secure their 64 consecutive victory at home. Li, a 22-year-old center, had 13 points and seven rebounds in the game.

"It was a hard game," said Bayi head coach A Dijiang. "But I am pleased with the result that secured us a berth in the finals."

A, who took over the team from the Chinese national coach Wang Fei four days before the start of the regular season, led the Rockets to their seventh consecutive finals in their first season without star center Wang Zhizhi. Having helped Bayi clinch six CBA titles, Wang left for the NBA Dallas Mavericks this season.

Liu Yudong made a three-pointer to give Bayi a 33-29 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, the Bulls came back with a 13-1 run after the game resumed and was 59-52 up after the first half.

"We played very well in the second quarter," Shandong coach Ye Peng said. "Our players did their best and I am satisfied with performance despite the defeat."

Ji Minshang, 2.10, led five Shandong players in double digits with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Shandong outrebounded Bayi 28-14 in the first two quarters but was outrebounded 24-20 in the second half.

The Rockets will play the Sharks, who beat the Tigers 101-96 to remain a 100 percent record in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, here on Wednesday.

The Sharks cruised into the finals in the last two seasons but fell 3-0 and 3-1 to Bayi in their first two attempts for their first ever CBA title.

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