WCBA – Gao’s efforts in vain as Zhejiang dash Heilongjiang’s play-off hopes

BEIJING, China (WCBA) - Heilongjiang lost 73-85 to Zhejiang on Tuesday squandering the opportunity to make the WCBA playoffs.

A win for Heilongjiang would have lifted them above Beijing in the standings and earned them the eighth and final playoff spot.

Beijing - whose destiny was no longer in their own hands - were the ones to profit from this result as they secured the last remaining ticket.

Heilongjiang kept pace in the first quarter, ending only marginally behind with the scoreboard showing 24-25.

But a 25-18 un tilted the scales in Zhejiang’s favor.

Although Heilongjiang attempted a recovery in the third quarter (18-16), Zhejiang recovered and regained complete control in the fourth.

Former Indiana Fever center Ebony Hoffman led Zhejiang’s charge with 27 points and 10 rebounds as Cheng Po-Wen accounted for 23 points and 7 rebounds.

Shi Tong had 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and as many steals, while Shen Binbin came up with a game-high eight assists.

Ji Yanyan, who had played a leading role in Heilongjiang’s win over Yunnan in the previous round, keeping them in the play-off race, returned only 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Gao Song led the Heilongjiang cause, albeit a losing one, with a game-high 31 points and 16 rebounds, also a game-high.

Liu JiaCen scored 15 points.

WCBA Standings at the end of Regular Season

1. Shenyang Golden Lions 19-3+
2. Guangdong Dolphins 17-5+
3. Bayi Kylin 16-6+
4. Liaoning Hengye 14-8+
5. Jiangsu Phoenix 14-8+
6. Qujing Yunnan 10-12+
7. Zhejiang Far East 11-11+
8. Beijing Great Wall 9-13+
9. Henan Elephants 8-14*
10. Heilongjiang Chenneng 8-14*
11. Shanghai Octopus 6-16*
12. Fujian Nanan 0-22*

+denotes qualified for play-offs
*denotes eliminated from play-offs

FIBA Asia/FIBA