Sharks end season with another defeat
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, February 18, 2013
Shanghai Sharks finished their 2012-13 Chinese Basketball Association season with a 77-97 loss to Liaoning Jiebao on home court last night.
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Liu Ziqiu of Shanghai Sharks watches when guarding by Liaoning's Josh Akognon in a CBA game on Feb.17, 2013. |
Shanghai, with a 10-22 record, was a dismal 14th in the 17-team league, ending an awful season that saw injuries to key players and a change of head coach.
Seven-time CBA champions the Guangdong Southern Tigers (28-4) finished strong and grabbed the top spot. The playoffs start on February 27.
The Sharks, having already missed the playoffs, did not field skipper Liu Wei and Gilbert Arenas last night, relying instead on local players.
"Hopes for Shanghai basketball will be retained through our endless efforts," said Wang Qun, Shanghai's interim head coach, who took charge after American Daniel Panaggio stepped down in January. It is unclear whether Wang will lead the team next season.
Shanghai trailed 41-52 at the break but let Liaoning build a 20-point cushion after the third quarter, ending all its hopes.
Liaoning's Josh Akognon notched a game-high 21 points while Cai Liang scored 15 points and six rebounds for the Sharks. Liaoning ended up fifth.
Elsewhere, Guangdong won 121-104 over Tracy McGrady's Qingdao Eagles. T-Mac had a game-high 30 points and nine rebounds but Qingdao (8-24) still could not escape the bottom.
Defending champions the Beijing Ducks, missing Stephon Marbury, lost 82-99 to the Bayi Rockets. Beijing finished third in the regular season.
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