Regular season leaders Xinjiang Flying Tigers have set up a 2016-2017 Chinese Basketball Association finals meeting with eight-time champions Guangdong Southern Tigers after beating the Liaoning Flying Leopards, 111-103, in Game 5 of their semifinals matchup held at the Benxi Gymnasium in Liaoning, China.

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Xinjiang, who won their series 4-1 over Liaoning, was spearheaded by former Euroleague standout Darius Adams, who scored a game-high 48 points, according to Shanghai Daily. The former Lincoln College and Indianapolis point guard also had seven rebounds and two assists, shooting an impressive 12-for-18 from two-point range.

Houston Rockets draftee Zhou Qi backed him up with a monster double-double of 22 points and 11 boards with two steals and one block. American-Filipino Andray Blatche, the Flying Tigers' other import, added 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Lester Hudson led Liaoning with 33 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals with teammate Han Dejun contributing 19 points and 16 boards. Former Boston Celtic Shavlik Randolph had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

"Thanks to all my players, this is the toughest season for the team as well as in the 12-season career of mine," Liaoning head coach Guo Shiqiang told reporters during the post-match press conference. "We wish Xinjiang good performance in the finals." The Flying Leopards has been hampered by injuries to key players all season long as they finished fifth in the regular season.

Meanwhile, Guangdong also won their semifinals series against their cross-province rivals Shenzhen Leopards, 4-1, after pulling off their own 103-90 Game 5 victory at the Dalang Arena in Dongguan hours before the Xinjiang-Liaoning conclusion, as per Xinhuanet.

Former NBA star Yi Jianlian led the Southern China Tigers with 29 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and one steal while fellow former Laker Carlos Boozer added 25 points, nine boards, and one assist, shooting 11-for-15 from the field. Chinese national team captain Zhou Peng had 20 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal for Guangdong.

Tagschinese basketball association, 2016-2017 Chinese Basketball Association season, Chinese Basketball News, Xinjiang Flying tigers, guangdong southern tigers