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GUANGZHOU, Jan. 5-- Basketball fans in south China's Guangdong province might have mixed feelings on Sunday as Guangdong Southeast Tigers eased past Sichuan Blue Whale 119-108, while Guangzhou Loong Lions suffered their 13th straight defeat in the Guangdong Derby against Shenzhen Aviators, losing 96-90, in the 25th round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Down by 37-20 in the first quarter, Sichuan fought hard till the last minute with four of its players fouled out, but Guangdong were just too good for the team which are in 17th place of the 20-team table. With their eighth consecutive win, the defending champions held onto their lead in the CBA standings with a 23-2 record. Veteran center Yi Jianlian grabbed 27 points and nine rebounds for Guangdong, surpassing Mengke Bateer to stand second on the CBA all-time regular season rebound leaders list with 4,179 rebounds. Tyler Hansbrough put up a show of 41 points and 19 rebounds in vain for Sichuan. In the clash between the other two teams in Guandong province, Guangzhou went close to snapping their 12-game losing streak as they kept a tiny lead over Shenzhen in the first three quarters on road. However, the hosts launched a 10-2 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter to turn the tables. Trailing by 94-90 with 21.3 seconds remaining, Guangzhou saw their last hopes dashed as Chen Yingjun, who was hot with 19 points, committed a five-second throw-in violation. Shenzhen's Dwight Buycks was sent to free throw line and clinched the victory 96-90, adding two more points to his 23 points and 14 rebounds performance. | 
