CBA's safe return lifts the spirits

Lin holds court

Lin's commitment to helping the three-time champion Ducks regain its supremacy was underlined in the team's 91-82 victory over league powerhouse the Liaoning Flying Leopards on Saturday in Qingdao.

Lin, who averaged 24.2 points and 5.8 assists in the Ducks' first 30 games before the season halted in late January, managed only 13 points against Liaoning but still proved pivotal by dishing out six assists and hitting a decisive jumper to give Beijing a double-digit lead with two minutes left.

"The CBA league's restart means a lot to the revival of global sports, hopefully it can give confidence to other basketball leagues and players," said Lin, who joined the capital franchise last summer from the NBA champion Toronto Raptors.

With more than half of the teams playing with all-Chinese rosters due to the foreign-entry restrictions, nine-time champion the Guangdong Southern Tigers appears an even a stronger title contender with prolific American swingman Sonny Weems staying with the team throughout season break.