League leader Guangdong Hongyuan edged fourth-placed Dongguan Marco Polo 117-109 in an arch-rival match of the 19th round of the Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA) on Sunday.

Three players were fouled out and a total of 59 fouls were committed throughout the game when Guangdong held on in the decisive fourth quarter.

Dongguan led 87-85 into the fourth quarter before guard Wang Shipeng scored five straight points to give the home team a 107-101 lead with less than three minutes to go.

Wang had the game-high 25 points and Dixon Joson Lamar adding 22 points and 13 rebounds before he was fouled out with two minutes left.

Qiu Biao led Dongguan with 22 points while Anthony Myles having 21 points and six rebounds. Wang Jing chipped in 20 points.

Guangdong had the better of the game at the start, but let its opponent closed it and surrendered the lead in the third quarter.

Second-placed Xinjiang Guanghui had another balanced game to beat Shandong Flaming Bulls 96-83 to keep it pace with Guangdong, recording the identical 16-2.

Bayi Fubang welcomed back three starters from the injury list to beat Beijing Ducks 92-83 with center Wang Zhizhi having 22 of his 30 points in the first half.

In Sunday's other games, Jilin Northeast Tigers defeated Yunnan Honghe 110-102, Fujian SBS crashed Shanxi Zhongyu 110-88, Zhejiang Guangsha slashed off Shanghai Sharks 114-95, Liaoning Hunters nailed down Shannxin Weilixin 107-97 while Jiangsu Dragons beat Zhejiang Cyclones 98-87.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2007)