22 FRIDAY MARCH 16, 2007 SPORTSCHINA DAILY

INBRIEF SNOOKER Yi ready to go out in a blaze of glory Ding makes history with World Championship place Teenage snooker sensation to the first international top points and 9.6 rebounds in he has risen to 7th, currently in 2001 - and being kicked off Ding Junhui has become All eyes on battle of big men pick in the 2002 Draft. 2006 to 29 points and 13.67 projected to be Seattle Sonics, the national team for refusing to the fi rst Chinese player to Yi wants to ensure that his- rebounds. He scored 35 points while ESPN.com has him go- return for national duty – qualify for the fi nal stages of as Tigers face Bayi in CBA Finals tory repeats itself. and ripped down 14 boards to ing as high as 6th out of 150 helped Bayi, an army-run team the World Championships at “I have never been so hun- power past Jiangsu prospects. based in , to six consecu- the famous Crucible in Shef- By Zhao Rui the NBA draft. All I’m thinking gry for the CBA title,” he said. Nangang in the semifi nal de- “Yi has made tremendous tive CBA championships. fi eld, England. about now is beating Bayi and “I know Wang wants to stop cider last week. progress in recent months,” Wang, 29, this season aver- Ding, runner-up in January’s dominating the Finals,” Yi, us, I know Bayi have played “Everybody sees his improve- wrote ESPN.com draft expert aged career highs of 30.14 Masters, beat Mark Davis 10-6 sensation 19, was quoted as saying by incredibly well this season, ment,” CBA Chief Yuanwei Chad Ford. “If you take a look points and 13.29 rebounds to on Wednesday. wants a fourth straight domestic Sina.com. but I am always confi dent as told China Daily. “He’s only had at how he’s playing in the Play- send Bayi to their 11th CBA Fi- The 19-year-old, who has won league title before leaving for the Winning the CBA title has we have come a long way to the three years to become a super- offs in the Chinese league, nals appearance in the team’s three world-ranking titles, NBA, but standing in his way is become an auspicious way to Finals, we conquered a lot of star. He is getting stronger day you’ll know why we list him 12-year history. was required to qualify as he China’s original “Walking Great say goodbye. diffi culties – injuries, fatigue, by day and both his attack and higher than before.” “I am quite relaxed,” he was is still not ranked in the world Wall”, . In 2001, Wang held off a whatever. defense are better than ever. I All the talk of Yi is having quoted as saying on Sina.com. Top 16. Yi’s Guangdong Tigers have strong challenge from the Yao “Winning four champion- think he is already well-pre- little impact on Wang and his “We are not the defending Davis compiled breaks of 129, won three straight titles, but Ming-led to ship rings would be a dream pared for the NBA Draft and Bayi team. champions and we just play 73 and 79 to take a 4-2 lead, seven-time champions Bayi give Bayi their sixth trophy, come true and I won’t let it slip also the upcoming showdown Since returning home last game by game. The pressure but Ding levelled at 6-6 and Rockets have been fi red up by before joining the Dallas away.” with Wang.” year from a four-year stint in is not on us. fi nished the game off with the returning Wang, meaning Mavericks to become the fi rst Yi has made rapid progress Yi’s improvement has been the US, “Big Zhi” has become “I don’t see the Finals as a back to back centuries of 114 this time round the Tigers will Chinese in the NBA. The follow- this year in helping his team noted by NBA draft experts. a pivotal player for Bayi and collision between Yi and my- and 126. have to fi ght like never before. ing year a rising Yao dominated fi nish top in the regular sea- NBAdraft.net listed him as 15th China’s national team. self. I want to give my team a “I didn’t play that well but my “I don’t want to think about the Playoffs, elevating himself son. He improved his 20.5 pick three months ago but now Before departing to the NBA long-awaited title.” safety was good,” he said. “Af- ter I went 8-6 up I felt better and played two good frames Wang Zhizhi, power forward (inset) TV Times Yi Jianlian, (inset) Guangdong Tigers to win.” Wang has averaged over 30 points and Game 1: March 18, Sunday 19: A dominating fi gure at both ends. His mid- Ding’s next tournament will 13 boards this season and is the team’s best 30, CCTV 5 range shooting has improved this season and Coach: Li Qun be the China Open in three-point shooter at 44.4%. But Yi will look Game 2: March 20, Tuesday 19: he is a more energetic defender than Wang Home court: Arena after March 25 to April 1. to exploit his weak defense. 30, CCTV 5 Zhizhi. Equipped with five national Hu Ke, center Game 3: March 22, Thursday , power forward team players, Guangdong Tigers SOCCER Limited offensive threat with a miserable 19:30, CCTV 5 Du is an inside scorer who can also hit from have replaced Bayi as the best 3.4 points per game, but does the dirty work Game 4: March 24, Saturday, distance. Was missed when he had knee trouble CBA team in recent years with Aussies name strong while Wang takes the plaudits. 19:30, CCTV 5 earlier in the season. three consecutive titles from squad to face China Chen Ke, small forward *March 28, Wednesday, 19: , small forward 2004-2006. : Australia yesterday A contributor at both ends, but if Zhu gets 30, CCTV 5 Dubbed “China’s ” for his tough announced a 20-man squad hot his temper could spell trouble. *March 30, Friday, 19:30, defense, Zhu is also one of the league’s best boosted by their European- , shooting guard CCTV 5 three-point shooters, averaging 45.1% from based stars for this month’s A fi ve-year national team mainstay, Li is the *April 1, Sunday, 19:30; CCTV 5 behind the arc. soccer international against Coach: Adijiang team’s second scorer with 20 points per game. Note: Guangdong will play host , shooting guard China in . Home court: Ningbo Youngor At 32 he is a veteran and the intense schedule in the opening two games of A playmaker who can penetrate the de- The Australians are using the Arena will test the legs. the best-of-seven champi- fense, creating shooting opportunities for Zhu March 24 match as a tune-up The army-run team is the most Wang Zhongguang, point guard onship series. The next two and Yi. for their fi rst foray into the successful squad in CBA histo- Despite a team-leading four assists per games are on Bayi’s home Liu Xiaoyu, point guard Asian Cup in July. ry, winning the league seven game this season, he has less impact on events court. The two teams will play Named by China Daily as a youngster to Ten members of last year’s times including six consecutive than opponent Liu Xiaoyu. But in the clutch his host in turn during the rest of watch this season, Liu’s explosive pace has World Cup squad in Germany titles from 1995-2001. experience could be a factor. the series if necessary. made him a crowd favorite. were named in the squad in- cluding leading players , , , and . “This is the last game before the squad assembles in Young stars get dream American training Sydney ahead of the matches against Uruguay and Argen- BASKETBALL day playing in the National with victories by European The instructor struggles tina (in June) so there is a Basketball Association (NBA) and South American teams in to get the players to abandon big opportunity for players BLUE RIVER, Oregon: With like Yao. recent years at international conversations in Mandarin but to show they deserve a place a smooth flick of the wrist, Off the court, the players re- competitions once dominated the boys agree to take turns in the Asian Cup squad,” in- Zheng Zun’s spindly fi ngers treat to cabin-style dormitories by the United States. reading aloud an English book terim national coach Graham send the basketball spinning where they play video games, The next wave of Chinese about Hall of Fame center Kar- Arnold said in a Football toward the rim. The net cord watch Chinese movies and nap basketball heroes are already eem Abdul-Jabbar. Federation Australia state- stirs only for a moment before in bunkbeds too short for their following Yao to the NBA. Yi In order to ensure the players ment yesterday. Zheng launches another long long frames. Jianlian, an athletic seven-foot eat enough food and maintain “We need to continue to build jumpshot, again extending The group includes three forward from Guangdong, is a proper diet, the USBA hired depth, not just for the Asian his rail-thin arms. players over seven feet. Most likely to be one of the first a cook to prepare Chinese food Cup but also as we look ahead “Watch how the ball leaves of the teenage boys are at least players selected in this year’s for the players, who gobble up to the 2010 World Cup qualify- his hand,” said Cameron Hill, six foot four inches, including NBA draft. more than 30 pounds (13.6 kg) ing campaign.” a coach at the United States the guards. Li Qi, the young- Zheng represents the chal- of rice a day. Basketball Academy (USBA) in est player at 11, is six feet tall lenges and the potential for the “They can’t eat American CSL, Canon cooperation central Oregon. “There aren’t and can dunk a volleyball on a players in the program. He is food every day,” said chef Jack a picture of happiness many seven-footers in the regulation hoop with ease. His tall, athletic and skilled but he Chang, a native of who China Super League (CSL), world with that type of shoot- hands are not big enough to can be lazy and needs to add calls the players his children. the nation’s top fl ight soccer ing touch.” hold a basketball. mass and strength to his bony “They’re all teenagers. Their league, has received a boost to At seven feet one inch (2.16 190-pound (86-kg) frame, ac- plates look like small moun- its development after Canon, meters) and 17 years old, Zheng Global spread cording to the coaches. tains of food.” the world’s leading image is one of 25 boys – some as This is the second group of “The players aren’t afraid to Like many American teenag- solution provider and long- young as 11 – from China who promising young players sent work but they need constant ers, the players love trips to the timr sponsor, promised to have spent the last few months by the junior clubs of Chinese motivation,” said Hill, who shopping mall, where the group continue its fi nancial support in the backwoods of Oregon Basketball Association teams along with another coach, are greeted with dumbfounded to the CSL. at a training camp that could to the US Basketball Academy, Chris Briggs, delivers instruc- stares and autograph requests. This year is the tenth year help to tip the global balance of a year-round training facility tions to the players in simple Players return with stacked since Canon started its co- basketball power. founded by former University phrases and animated hand boxes of sneakers and shop- operation with the then China Basketball will be an im- of Hawaii coach Bruce O’Neil. gestures. ping bags full of athletic gear First Division League, and the portant showcase at the 2008 “In 10 years, China is going and electronics. company has been involved Beijing , where to be a power in basketball Hip-hop music “I love to go shopping,” in different sports market- China will highlight , throughout the world,” said In a bungalow near the bas- said Ji Xiang, a six-foot-eight ing promotions and charity the ’ all-star O’Neil, who aims to expand ketball gym, the coaches push power forward from Shanghai activities. center and one of the country’s the programme to 80 players the players through weight-lift- who speaks English well and Most of the Chinese pho- most famous athletes. next year. “There are several ing exercises and agility drills hopes to go to college in United tographers working in the On a secluded encampment hundred seven-footers in China. while hip-hop music blares States. “It’s easy to get fed up. soccer fi eld are using Canon along the banks of the McKen- They’re everywhere.” over the speakers. The music You only go to three places: products and have recorded zie River, Chinese players train China’s push for basketball is so loud that it disrupts an the gym, the cafeteria and the numerous memorable mo- daily with American coaches on superpower status marks English class taking place in weight room.” Basketball player Ji Xiang, from Shanghai, China works on ments in China’s soccer defensive techniques and shoot- the next phase in the sport’s a smaller space adjacent to the rebounding with coach Cameron Hill at the US Basketball Acad- history. ing drills with the dream of one globalization, which started weight room. Agencies emy in Blue River, Oregon on February 20, 2007. Reuters SCOREBOARD

CRICKET NEW YORK: Results from Wednesday’s Minnesota 28 35 .444 14 1/2 Southeast Division St. Louis at Vancouver (Berbatov 28, 42, Malbranque 76) Sport- World Cup games (home team in CAPS): Portland 26 38 .406 17 Atlanta 37 24 10 219 218 84 Chicago at Los Angeles ing Braga (POR) 2 (Huddlestone 24-og, BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Results and tables TORONTO 104 NY Knicks 94 Seattle 25 39 .391 18 Tampa Bay 39 28 4 223 219 82 Andrade 61) SOCCER Spurs win 6-4 on aggregate on Wednesday in the fi rst round of the Chicago 88 PHILADELPHIA 87 Pacifi c Division Carolina 35 28 8 206 212 78 Phoenix 50 14 .781 - English Premiership At Bremen, Germany: Werder Bremen 2007 World Cup: CHARLOTTE 111 Sacramento 108 Florida 29 28 13 202 220 71 LA Lakers 33 31 .516 17 : English Premiership results on (GER) 2 (Almeida 48, Fritz 61) Celta Vigo Group A ORLANDO 101 Utah 90 Washington 24 34 12 203 251 60 Golden State 30 36 .455 21 Wednesday: (ESP) 0 At Basseterre, St Kitts: Australia bt Scot- Washington 112 INDIANA 96 Western Conference LA Clippers 29 35 .453 21 Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 1 (Diaby 9) Werder win 3-0 on aggregate land by 203 runs BOSTON 109 Atlanta 88 Central Division Sacramento 28 36 .438 22 Manchester City 0 Chelsea 1 (Lampard At Pamplona, Spain: Osasuna (ESP) 1 Group C Cleveland 118 MEMPHIS 96 Detroit 45 17 9 227 177 99 HOUSTON 109 LA Clippers 105 Southwest Division Nashville 46 20 6 246 190 98 28-pen) (Webo 70) Rangers (SCO) 0 At Gros Islet, St Lucia: Kenya bt Canada by Dallas 52 11 .825 - Standings Osasuna win 2-1 on aggregate 7 wickets Phoenix 129 DALLAS 127 (OT) St. Louis 29 29 11 183 212 69 Detroit 87 PORTLAND 75 San Antonio 46 18 .719 6 1/2 Columbus 28 35 7 174 216 63 W D L Gf Ga Pts At Leverkusen, Germany: Bayer Standings Houston 40 25 .615 13 Man United 23 3 3 66 19 72 Leverkusen (GER) 3 (Voronin 36, Barbarez (won, lost, no result, tied, points, net run Standings: Chicago 26 34 9 173 217 61 Eastern Conference N.O./ Oklahoma City 28 36 .438 24 1/2 Northwest Division Chelsea 20 6 3 51 19 66 55, Juan 70) Lens (FRA) 0 rate) Memphis 16 50 .242 37 1/2 Arsenal 16 7 5 51 23 55 Leverkusen win 4-2 on aggregate Group A Atlantic Division Vancouver 41 23 6 188 176 88 W L PCT GB Minnesota 40 24 7 203 176 87 Liverpool 16 5 8 44 20 53 TENNIS Australia 1 0 0 0 2 +4.06 NHL Bolton 14 5 10 34 34 47 South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Toronto 36 29 .554 - NEW YORK: Results from Wednesday’s Calgary 37 23 10 227 192 84 Indian Wells ATP and WTA New Jersey 30 35 .462 6 Colorado 35 29 6 228 218 76 Everton 11 10 8 37 26 43 Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 games (home team in CAPS): Reading 13 4 12 43 38 43 INDIAN WELLS, California: Results here NY Knicks 29 35 .453 6 1/2 Pittsburgh 3 NEW JERSEY 0 Edmonton 30 34 6 177 210 66 Scotland 0 1 0 0 0 -4.06 Tottenham 12 6 11 40 43 42 on Wednesday in the $5.3 million ATP and Philadelphia 25 40 .385 11 DETROIT 4 Nashville 2 Pacifi c Division Group C Portsmouth 11 8 10 36 31 41 WTA Pacifi c Life Open hardcourt tourna- Boston 19 45 .297 16 1/2 COLORADO 3 Calgary 2 Anaheim 42 17 12 228 183 96 Kenya 1 0 0 0 2 +0.70 Blackburn 12 4 13 35 39 40 ment (x denotes seeding): Central Division Columbus 5 ANAHEIM 4 (SO) Dallas 41 23 5 183 166 87 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Newcastle 10 7 12 34 37 37 Men’s 4th rd Detroit 41 22 .651 - Standings San Jose 42 25 3 211 172 87 England 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Middlesbrough 9 9 11 32 34 36 Andy Murray (GBR x13) bt Nikolay Cleveland 40 25 .615 2 Eastern Conference Phoenix 28 38 3 186 235 59 Canada 0 1 0 0 0 -0.70 Aston Villa 7 12 10 29 35 33 Davydenko (RUS x4) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4; Novak Chicago 39 28 .582 4 Atlantic Division Los Angeles 23 34 13 197 242 59 Djokovic (SRB x12) bt Julien Benneteau Group D Fulham 7 12 10 31 44 33 Indiana 29 35 .453 12 1/2 W L Otl Gf Ga Pts Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one (FRA) 6-3, 6-1; David Ferrer (ESP x14) bt West Indies 1 0 0 0 2 +1.08 Wigan 9 5 15 30 44 32 Milwaukee 23 41 .359 18 1/2 New Jersey 42 20 8 186 170 92 point in thestandings and are not included Carlos Moya (ESP) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3; Tommy Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Sheff United 8 7 14 25 41 31 Southeast Division Pittsburgh 39 21 10 240 217 88 in the loss column (L) Haas (Ger x9) bt Fernando Gonzalez (Chi Zimbabwe 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Man City 8 6 14 20 34 30 Washington 35 28 .556 - NY Islanders 34 25 10 207 195 78 Thursday’s games x5) 6-3, 6-2. Pakistan 0 1 0 0 0 -1.08 Charlton 6 6 17 26 49 24 Miami 34 29 .540 1 NY Rangers 34 28 8 200 193 76 Washington at Boston Women’s quarter-fi nals Already played Watford 3 11 15 18 43 20 Orlando 30 36 .455 6 1/2 Philadelphia 19 40 11 185 262 49 Atlanta at Philadelphia (CHN x12) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS March 13 West Ham 5 5 19 21 50 20 Group D Atlanta 26 40 .394 10 1/2 Northeast Division New Jersey at Carolina x15) 6-4, 7-5; Daniela Hantuchova (Svk UEFA Cup At Kingston: West Indies bt Pakistan by Charlotte 24 41 .369 12 Buffalo 44 19 6 260 205 94 Buffalo at Florida x14) bt Shahar Peer (Isr x11) 6-2 5-7 7-6(5). Ottawa 40 23 7 241 193 87 PARIS: Results from UEFA Cup fourth 54 runs Western Conference NY Islanders at Ottawa Toronto 34 27 9 219 227 77 round second leg ties played on Wednes- Remaining fi rst round matches: Northwest Division Calgary at Dallas To comment or alert us to a story, Utah 43 21 .672 - Montreal 35 30 6 208 223 76 Minnesota at Edmonton day: e-mail [email protected] NBA Denver 31 31 .500 11 Boston 33 31 5 198 241 71 San Jose at Phoenix At London: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 3