Bayi Rocket into Second Place in CBA League

Beijing Ducks Snatched a Home Victory over Vanguard Aoshen

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Defending champions Bayi Rockets mounted into the second place on Wednesday after the once king ousted the lowly Jinan Army 127-124 in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Jinan.

Pivot Wang Zhizhi contributed 45 points, eight rebounds to the five-time champions, who had doubles their losses in the league after surrendered three games this season.

The Jinan Army, who led by 77-66 in the first half, missed a winning chance when Li Lin failed to drill in a 3-pointer at 124-126 with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Bayi made another free throw to seal the victory.

Jinan's center Shan Tao, who scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, did a great job in defending Wang throughout the game before he was fouled out two minutes into the decisive quarter.

In a match between two capital teams in Beijing, the Beijing Ducks handed Vanguard Aoshen the second staight loss at home at the Shijingshan Stadium, 100-73.

The unbeatable Shanghai Sharks kept their winning streak to 10 games since the beginning of the season with a 101-90 home victory over the struggling Liaoning Hunters, while the bottom Shenyang Army lost their 10th matches in a 107-93 home loss to the Guangdong Hongyuan.

In Wednesday's other matches, the Shandong Flaming Bulls defeated the Jiangsu Dragons 104-99 at home, while the Zhejiang Cyclones surprised the Jilin Northeast Tigers 103-98 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.