Bayi center Sun Mengran scores 28 points, earns MVP honors

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The two-day Chinese Women's Basketball Association's All-Star Game kicked off last weekend in Hohhot, the capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Twenty four of the best players in the league were selected to make up teams representing the North and South, and give the fans a special show last Sunday night.

Before tip-off, the All-Stars put on a dance show.

Making special appearances were Miao Lijie, who led China's 2008 Beijing Olympics team, along with Zheng Haixia from China's squad at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

CBA President Yao Ming gave them game jerseys and thanked them for their contributions to the sport.

Early in the game, the North went on a fast break, and Beijing's Shao Ting got an easy bucket. The North led by 14 points in the first quarter.

Sichuan forward Jiang Jiayin drilled a three and the South trailed by seven points.

At halftime, three players took part in the Skills Competition. Yang Liwei completed the course in 39.4 seconds, and the Guangdong guard won the event for her third consecutive time.

In the three-point shooting contest, Liaoning's Liang Jiamei tallied 16 points and made all the balls in the final rack to become champion.

After the interval, Bayi's Sun Mengran made an easy lay-up and the North led by four.

Shao got a long pass and found Sun who scored a game-high 28 points. The North won 123-109, and Sun was named MVP.