Sharks Rout Guangdong for Second Straight WinChinese giant Yao Ming contributed 36 points and 20 rebounds to lead Shanghai Sharks over host Guangdong Hongyuan 103-89 for their second consecutive victory in the Chinese basketball league Wednesday in Dongguan, Guangdong Province.The 20-year-old Yao, who inspired Sharks past defending champions Bayi Rockets 101-96 with 22 points in the season's opener on Saturday, continued his run of top form as he finished 15-for-19 from the field and 6-of-6 from the line. He also had eight blocks, three assists and one steal. Zhang Wenqi and George Ackles added 20 and 16 points respectively for Sharks' opening away triumph. Li Qiuping, head coach of the Shanghai Sharks, attributed his side's success to their power in the center while Hong Yuan's coach Zhang Yongjun was placid with the home loss. "Sharks are much stronger than us, they deserved to win," Zhang said. In Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, Bayi Rockets held off a late surge from visiting Vanguard Aoshen to claim their first victory of the season 109-101. The Rockets outscored Vanguard 31-24 in the fourth quarter when their star center and Chinese international Wang Zhizhi sat out with six fouls. Otherwhere, Beijing Ducks trounced Shenyang Army 113-89, Jilin Northeast Tigers beat Liaoning Hunters 93-88, Jinan Army defeated Shandong Flaming Bulls 92-75 and Jiangsu Dragons fell to Zhejiang Cyclone 98-85. Yao Ming Leads Shanghai to Oust Bayi 100-95Pivot Yao Ming led the Shanghai Sharks to a brilliant victory by ousting the defending champions Bayi Rockets 100-95 in the opening game of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) new season in Shanghai on November 18.Yao, 20, who took part in the Olympics this summer, outshone Wang Zhizhi, who was selected by the NBA Dallas Mavericks in 1998-99 in the second round draft. Shanghai took a revenge for their 4-0 loss in last season's finals to the Rockets. |
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