Liaoning Panpan is the front-runner in the North Conference of the Chinese Basketball Association after an away victory over Jilin Tiger with 110-96.

The Jilin team launched attacks since the start and took the lead at 16-5 after a 10-2 surge, while the visiting Liaoning made every effort to keep up with the home side.

The two side traded goals in the first three quarters and the home team took a narrow lead with 76-74 before entering the last period.

But the lead was transferred to the visiting side in the fourth quarter when Liaoning set the score at 82-80.

Liaoning enhanced steals on the court and fired two three pointers to consolidate the advantage with 98-90 with 1 min and 18 seconds to play.

The miraculous Jiangsu kept-up their unbeaten run of 18 matches after beating Bayi Shuanglu 124-94 in a road match.

Veteran Hu Weidong again proved he is irreplaceable when his three-pointers boosted the visiting team's lead in the first quarter.

While the Bayi side, previously the best team in the Chinese basketball league, slumped to the tough period: after hitting the opening goal, the squad reaped few points in the following time and trailed with 34-20 at the end of the quarter.

There is no hint that the home side could get rid of the low form in the match and the fourth quarter actually drifted to the rubbish time as both sides put substitutes on the court.

Jiangsu tops the tally in the South Conference. Bayi takes the third after the ordeal, while the second spot is left for Guangdong Hongyuan.

In the North Conference, Liaoning and Jilin stand the top two places. Beijing takes third spot after a victory over Henan with 93-85.?

(CRI December 27, 2004)