BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 2023-24 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season kicked off with defending champion Liaoning Flying Leopards sweeping past Nanjing Monkey Kings 109-85 on Saturday.
Liaoning won two straight CBA titles in the last two seasons, and for the new season, former head coach Yang Ming was replaced by Spain's Hugo Lopez, which was seen as the biggest X-factor on the team's campaign towards a third straight CBA title.
Prior to the game, Liaoning players received their championship rings in a short ceremony.
Liaoning entered Saturday's game without star point guard Guo Ailun, who has been suffering with leg injuries, while veteran center Han Dejun played less than five minutes.
But Liaoning still had a comfortable start, leading 28-12 in the first quarter. The gap reached 20 points in the second quarter after Kyle Fogg made a lay-up shot.
With huge advantage in hand, Liaoning began to send on new faces such as Li Huyi and Zhang Junhao, and both managed to score on their CBA debut.
Nanjing fought hard in the second half and cut the deficit to 14 points after a 21-10 run, but Liaoning regained the momentum after Zhao Jiwei, Zhang Zhenlin and Fu Hao made consecutive baskets. The margin was enlarged to more than 20 points again in the final quarter and Liaoning wrapped up the victory with a 24-point advantage.
Six Liaoning players scored in double digits. Forward Cong Mingchen had a team-best 20 points and Eric Moreland had 12 points and 14 rebounds.
"It's a very important day for Liaoning to celebrate last year's championship," said Lopez after the game. "And we want to give our fans more reasons to celebrate with the first win of the season."
All 12 Liaoning players got time on court, and each of them scored.
"I think we've been through the summer playing with these young guns," said Lopez about his team's performance.
"We want them to get minutes and get experience through the season.
"We want to play 10, 11 players in the game today, and I'm very happy that we play with all of the 12 players. Everybody was able to score and be the part of the victory."
In Saturday's other game, CBA powerhouse Guangdong Southern Tigers breezed past the Shanxi Loongs 118-98. Tremont Waters, who shone during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, shot down a team-best 27 points in his first CBA game with Guangdong. Shooting guard Hu Mingxuan added 20.
Guangdong star center Zhou Qi didn't play due to a back injury.
Yuan Shuai of Shanxi got a game-high 28 points. ■
