The Bayi Rockets have sailed into the semi-finals of the CBA League for a record 11 times in a row after beating the Liaoning Hunters for a 98-91 home win to wind up the best-of-five playoffs first-round series 3-1.
Veteran Zhang Jinsong chipped in game-high 34 points, including seven 3-pointers for the Rockets. Chen Ke contributed 18 points. Li Nan, Mo Ke and Li Ke each gained 12 points in the win.
Liu Xiangtao paced the Hunters with 31 points. Butler Reggie ended in a double-double with 26 points and 16 rebounds. No other Liaoning players reached double figures.
The Rockets will face the Beijing Ducks, leaders of the North Conference, in the semi-finals slated for Sunday.
Another semi-finals series will feature last year's champions Guangdong Southern Tigers and the Jiangsu Dragons.
(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2006)
