Shanghai Sharks got off to a flying start in the 2006-07 Chinese
Basketball Association league with an 86-79 victory over visiting
Fujian SBS.
The hosts received a much-needed shot in the arm through a juicy
sponsorship deal with the Nanjing-based air-conditioner maker
Huizhong Electronics, which pledged 30-million yuan over three
seasons.
The deal bailed Shanghai out of the perennial financial woes
since the departure of marquee star Yao Ming in 2002 for the NBA
and took team morale to new heights for the season-opener at Luwan
Stadium last night.
Captain Liu Wei scored a team-high of?20 points as field
guard and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Wang Yong added another
18 for the home side, which had a 17-point lead at 52-35 by the end
of the second quarter.
Fujian, powered by the sharpshooting Gong Songlin, who led all
players with 22 points, clawed back some lost ground in the second
half but came up short despite a late surge.
Elsewhere yesterday, Xinjiang Flying Tigers beat Shandong Lions
117-106, Shaanxi Kylins upset Jiangsu Dragons 106-96, Liaoning
Hunters got past Beijing Ducks 111-100, Jilin Northeast Tigers
outlasted Shanxi Zhongyu (the former Henan Dragons) 122-108, and
Yunnan Bulls fell to a catastrophic 62-101 loss to Zhejiang
Cyclones.
(Shanghai Daily October 9, 2006)
