BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Royal Fighters guard Liao Sanning and Shanghai Sharks power forward Kenneth Lofton were named the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)'s Players of the Week on Sunday.
Liao posted an all-around average of 19 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.5 steals and one block in 34 minutes of playing time per game, helping his team to three victorious from four matches over the past week.
In Beijing's 126-119 victory over the Fujian Sturgeons on Wednesday, Liao shot 5-of-5 from beyond the arc on the way to a 31-point performance along with eight assists. Two days later, he made immense defensive contributions to his team's 105-91 win over the Shenzhen Leopards with five steals and four blocks.
Lofton emerged as the winner in the overseas player category with an average of 33.8 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists in 41 minutes of action per game as Shanghai won three of the past four matches.
In Shanghai's 133-127 victory over the Jilin Northeast Tigers on March 14, the versatile forward nailed a triple-double of 29 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. He had an impressive performance against the Beijing Ducks on Friday, contributing 41 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals, including 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and five assists in the fourth quarter as Shanghai clawed back from a 22-point deficit early in the third quarter to eventually prevail 94-91, snapping the Ducks' 10-game winning streak.
The Royal Fighters currently sit 11th in the 20-team CBA standings with a 25-17 record, while Shanghai is one place above the Beijing side with a 27-15 record as both teams have already secured the playoffs spots. ■
