Liaoning Hunters kept the hope alive with a 96-88 win on Friday over Fujian SBS to tie the first-round series on 2-2 in the Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA) at home.

 

It is the only series that needs a tiebreaker for the winner with Jiangsu Dragons and Bayi Fubang advancing after beating their opponents.

 

Jiangsu defeated Shandong Flaming Bulls by 121-100, thanks to a combined 63 points from its two foreign players, Garnett Thompson and Carlos Dixon.

 

While Wang Zhizhi led seven Bayi's players in double figures with 28 points and 10 rebounds for a 3-1 series victory.

 

Jiangsu and Bayi joined defending champion Guangdong Hongyuan, who saw off Shanghai Sharks by 3-0 on Wednesday, into the semi-finals of the playoff.

 

The return of injured Ernest Brown boosted Liaoning as its outside shooters waked up for the tie.

 

Veteran Bian Qiang scored 22 points while guard Zhang Qingpeng buried six 3-pointers for 20 points to lead Liaoning, which shot 12-out-of-26 from behind arc.

 

Sunday's decisive match will be played again in Yinkou, Northeast of China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2007)