On April 3, Guangdong Hongyuan Southern Tigers, last year's champions, defeated Bayi Rockets 90-82 and progressed 3:0 on aggregate. Bayi, who have won seven titles over the past nine seasons, for the first time failed to enter the championship series.

In Jiangsu, center?Tang Zhengdong scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help?the host Nangang Dragons trounce the South Division's 4th-placed Yunnan Bulls 129-108.

The first game of the final best-of-5 series between Guangdong and Jiangsu is slated for April 13 in Guangdong.

(China.org.cn by LX, April 5, 2005)