Chinese beach volleyball tandem Xu Linyin and Wu Penggen obtained Friday their fifth victory and advanced to the final of the China Shanghai Jinshan Open.

This will be the first time a Chinese men's team plays the final at the Shanghai Jinshan Open.

They defeated Brazilians Pedro Kunha and Franco Neto 2-0, who will compete for the third place on Saturday.

"Our blocks restrained their offensives and our serves also posed threats to them," the 25-year old Wu said to reporters after the match.

"It is a thrill for us to play so well this week in front of the Chinese fans and our families," he said.

In another semifinal Friday, the second-seeded Harley Marques and Pedro Salgado edged out their compatriots Marcio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes 21-15, 14-14 and 15-11.

"We look forward to meeting the Chinese again for a gold medal, " said the 22-year old Salgado, referring to the Adelaide Australia Open in March, at which the same Brazilian pair defeat Wu and Xu in the final.

"The Chinese will have a great crowd behind them tomorrow, but we'll be ready to compete to maximum of our ability. It is an important match for us due to the Olympic qualifying," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2008)