Basketball sensation Yi Jianlian wants a fourth straight domestic league title before leaving for the NBA, but standing in his way is China's original "Walking Great Wall", Wang Zhizhi.

Yi's Guangdong Tigers have won three straight titles, but seven-time champions Bayi Rockets have been fired up by the returning Wang, meaning this time round the Tigers will have to fight like never before.

"I don't want to think about the NBA draft. All I'm thinking about now is beating Bayi and dominating the Finals," Yi, 19, was quoted as saying by Sina.com.

Winning the CBA title has become an auspicious way to say goodbye.

In 2001, Wang held off a strong challenge from the Yao Ming-led Shanghai Sharks to give Bayi their sixth trophy, before joining the Dallas Mavericks to become the first Chinese in the NBA. The following year a rising Yao dominated the Playoffs, elevating himself to the first international top pick in the 2002 Draft.

Yi wants to ensure that history repeats itself.

"I have never been so hungry for the CBA title," he said. "I know Wang wants to stop us, I know Bayi have played incredibly well this season, but I am always confident as we have  come a long way to the Finals, we conquered a lot of difficulties - injuries, fatigue, whatever.

"Winning four championship rings would be a dream come true and I won't let it slip away."

Yi has made rapid progress this year in helping his team finish top in the regular season. He improved his 20.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 2006 to 29 points and 13.67 rebounds. He scored 35 points and ripped down 14 boards to power Guangdong past Jiangsu Nangang in the semifinal decider last week.

"Everybody sees his improvement," CBA Chief Li Yuanwei told China Daily. "He's only had three years to become a superstar. He is getting stronger day by day and both his attack and defense are better than ever. I think he is already well-prepared for the NBA Draft and also the upcoming showdown with Wang."

Yi's improvement has been noted by NBA draft experts. NBAdraft.net listed him as 15th pick three months ago but now he has risen to 7th, currently projected to be Seattle Sonics, while ESPN.com has him going as high as 6th out of 150 prospects.

"Yi has 
made tremendous progress in recent months," wrote ESPN.com draft expert Chad Ford. "If you take a look at how he's playing in the Play-offs in the Chinese league, you'll know why we list him higher than before."

All the talk of Yi is having little impact on Wang and his Bayi team.

Since returning home last year from a four-year stint in the US, "Big Zhi" has become a pivotal player for Bayi and China's national team.

Before departing to the NBA in 2001 - and being kicked off the national team for refusing to return for national duty - Wang helped Bayi, an army-run team based in Ningbo, to six consecutive CBA championships.

Wang, 29, this season averaged career highs of 30.14 points and 13.29 rebounds to send Bayi to their 11th CBA Finals appearance in the team's 12-year history.

"I am quite relaxed," he was quoted as saying on Sina.com. "We are not the defending champions and we just play game by game. The pressure is not on us.

"I don't see the Finals as a collision between Yi and myself. I want to give my team a long-awaited title."

(China Daily March 16, 2007)