体坛英语新闻：Liaoning secure CBA's last playoffs ticket after win

BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Liaoning Hengye became the last playoffs team after rallying past Jiangsu Dragons 97-88 in Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Friday.

Yang Ming finished with game-high 27 points for Liaoning. Hakim Warrick and Han Dejun added 16 and 15 respectively.

Liaoning built an opening 13-8 lead, before Jiangsu's Jackson Vroman scored six points in a row to lead a 9-0 run. After trading several baskets, Jiangsu led by 27-23 after the opening quarter.

Warrick and Yang Ming's consecutive baskets helped the hosts make a strong comeback into the game. After building a 32-30 lead, Liaoning never trailed again in the following three periods.

For Jiangsu, the loss is to blame for injuries of several key players, including Hu Xuefeng, Meng Da, Yi Li and Marcus Haislip. Vroman shone with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

Last season runner-up Shandong Gold, currently ranked 9th, recorded a 118-103 home victory over struggling Shanxi Fenjiu, while that was not enough for a playoffs berth.

"Our players focused on the game right from the start, and that's the key for our win," said Shandong's head coach Gong Xiaobin.

Pooh Jeter led Shandong players with 22 points and seven assists. Sui Ran scored 19. Donnell Harvey had 16 points and 11 boards.

With one game to play, Liaoning had an one-game advantage over Shandong at hand. Due to double victories between two teams, Liaoning is set to advance into playoffs, which will start from next Tuesday.

Defending champions Guangdong Hongyuan saw a 15-game winning streak after edging past promoted Sichuan Jinqiang 102-98. Yi Jianlian contributed game-high 38 points and 12 rebounds. Zhu Fangyu made six 3-pointers to add 23 points and eight assists.

In other games, Beijing Ducks edged past Fujian SBS 109-104, Zhejiang Guangsha lost to Dongguan Marco Polo 117-105, Tianjin Ronggang crushed over Shanghai Sharks 120-94, Bayi Fubang suffered their 13th straight skid after a 89-79 loss to Foshan Long Lions, Zhejiang Chouzhou lost to Xinjiang Guanghui 93-83, and Qingdao Doublestars upset Jilin Northeast Tigers 116-101.