The Liaoning Flying Leopards head coach Guo Shiqiang has revealed that his players were worried about their safety during the team's 96-87 loss to hosts Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association finals on Friday.

"We played like prisoners tonight," Guo Shiqiang, who has been coaching the basketball club for four years now, said. "I have played in many big tournaments, like the Olympics, the world championship, the Asian championship, the Asian Games. I have never seen anything like that on Wednesday. We just want a fair environment to play in."

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Sichuan is leading the best-of-seven series with 3-1 and are just a win away from conquering their first ever CBA championship with Game 5 to be played in Chengdu on Sunday.

Liaoning players were involved in a mass brawl with some unruly Sichuan fans following the Blue Whales' Game the victory last Wednesday. The league's runner-up for the domestic MVP and Chinese national team member Guo Ailun and some of his teammates were seen exchanging punches with Sichuan fans.

Some disorderly Sichuan die-hard fans reportedly confronted the fathers of Guo and He Tianju at the lobby of the hotel where the Liaoning team is staying.

According to Xinhua, Guo, a longtime member of the Chinese national team, said that the CBA is the Asia's best basketball league and that security must be guaranteed for such a big event. Guo admitted that it was evident that his players participated in the brawl. However, he was quick to stress out that they were just defending themselves.

"Please let the players decide where the title goes. No matter how difficult it will be, we will do our best to defend Liaoning's spirit and try to bring the series back to Liaoning," added Guo.

Guo Shiqiang is a former player and also the assistant coach of the Chinese men's national basketball team. He played for the country at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, as well as the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

He guided China to a silver medal finish and a berth at the 2010 FIBA World Championship when he coached the national team at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship.

TagsLiaoning Flying Leopards, Sichuan Blue Whales, cba finals, guo shiqiang