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)