Wang Zhizhi scored a game-high 22 points to give Bayi Rockets a 94-89 win over rivals Guangdong Southern Tigers in Game 1 of the CBA Finals in Dongguan on Sunday.

The former Miami Heat center picked up eight rebounds and put up four blocks in over 26 minutes of play to give Bayi the edge in the inaugural best-of-seven series.

Game 1 and 2 will be played in Dongguan, home of Guangdong who has a 26-4 record in the regular season, while Game 3 and 4 will be played in Ningbo, home of Bayi (25-5), and the last three matches, if needed, will alternate.

Sunday's defeat marked the first fall for Guangdong in a finals opener after taking the last three championships.

Yi Jianlian led a squad of five Guangdong players who all registered double-digit contributions with 21 points and eight rebounds while Dixon Jason took a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Bayi benched Wang but unleashed their colossus at the end of the first quarter, when staring a 27-17 Guangdong lead.

Trailing 46-39 after the break, the military team enjoyed a fantastic third quarter ending with their first lead of the game at 68-66.

Bayi never looked back, even extending their lead to 75-67 in the final quarter and hanging on for the win.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2007)