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BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Beijing lifted their second consecutive Chinese women's basketball league title to wrap up the 2016-17 season and expect more glory to come.
At the final whistle on Thursday in Beijing Shougang Basketball Center, Shao Ting and Sylvia Fowels ran across the court to celebrate with teammates their back to back championships as the team from the Chinese capital has been laying foundation for their dynasty.
Beijing may not have been the strongest team in the past season but surely remained the most stable one whose force was reinforced by the recruitments of star center Shi Xiufeng from Shanghai and world-class foreign player Fowels.
The amazing chemistry on this team helped Beijing lead the regular season, with the record of only losing one home game.
Whereas former champions Shanxi changed four head coaches last year while injuries plagued title contenders Xinjiang and Henan.
"We finally build the dynasty of our own," The head coach Xu Liming said after Thursday's final. "And we start dreaming of winning three consecutive championships now."
In the final, some details left impressions.
Veteran Zhang Fan was substituted in the last two minutes with cast still on her fractured left arm and grabbed a rebound with her right hand. Later, she represented the whole team to lift the heavy WCBA trophy.
On the team's way to the final, Shi was able to bury the hatcht with Guangdong player Yelena Leuchanka and apologized to the Belarusian player before a game between Beijing and Guangdong in December. Shi received a four-match ban for slapping Leuchanka in a 2015-16 season match between Shanghai and Guangdong.
Beijing will be chasing their fourth league title when the 2017-18 season opens in late October or early November under the reins of newly elected Chinese Basketball Association head Yao Ming.
