Play offs

Chandler hopes to get clearance soon

Restricted free-agent forward Wilson Chandler, who just opted out of his contract with CBA club Zhejiang Lions this month, could sign a new NBA deal soon as the Lions season ended in an opening-round playoff loss to the Beijing Ducks on Sunday.

Chandler will likely get permission from FIBA to return to the NBA after the Lions were swept by the Ducks, 3-0, in the best-of-five postseason first round.

Another NBA import, Kenyon Martin, who played for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, ended his China sojourn prematurely last December and signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers immediately after his return to the US.

Martin's release before his club's season was done was an "error", according to CBA officials.

"He (Martin) applied for the clearance from FIBA. FIBA sent a letter to us during the Spring Festival, but we didn't reply on time to ask FIBA to hold him because there was no staff working during the holiday. So, FIBA cleared him, assuming we had approved (the move)," said Gong Luming, director of the CBA's operations department.

The Ducks want to taste championship champagne

Storming into the playoff semifinals for the first time since 2006, the Beijing Ducks have set a final berth as a realistic goal for their amazing season.

Hyped as the title favorites during a 13-match winning streak, the Ducks were guarded about their prospects midway through the regular season, but they seem much more positive now after breezing past the Zhejiang Lions in the opening round of the playoffs.

"Now, we really want to taste the championship and we have a bigger chance than ever," the Ducks head coach, Min Lulei, said after pounding the Lions, 105-91, on Sunday.

"But we still have to keep our heads clear, keep focused on what we have been doing and not be affected by the media hype. We feel more confident, but we won't relax," he said.

Min said this season's Ducks were a vastly different squad from the semifinalists of eight years ago.

"Although we've been here before, we are different this time as we know we can still go further and be more competent to fight for the title," said Min.

The Ducks will face either the Shanghai Sharks or the Shanxi Brave Dragons in their first semifinal game on Sunday.

(China Daily 02/28/2012 page24)