Guo Ailun (left) of Liaoning Flying Leopards breaks through during the semifinal between Guangdong Southern Tigers and Liaoning Flying Leopards at the 2021-2022 season of the Chinese Basketball Association league in Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi province, April 12, 2022. (PENG ZHAOZHI / XINHUA)

NANCHANG - The Liaoning Flying Leopards overwhelmed defending champions the Guangdong Southern Tigers 92-79 in the first game of the best-of-five semifinals in the Chinese Basketball Association playoffs in Nanchang on Tuesday.

Regular-season title holder Liaoning finished with six players in double figures, led by 16 points from Fu Hao. Zhang Zhenlin notched 15 points and Kyle Fogg added 13

Regular-season title holder Liaoning finished with six players in double figures, led by 16 points from Fu Hao. Zhang Zhenlin notched 15 points and Kyle Fogg added 13. Eric Moreland had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Zhao Rui led Guangdong with 15 points, followed by 14 from Hu Mingxuan. Sonny Weems contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds.

ALSO READ: Zhao, Jones named CBA Players of Week

Eric Moreland (right) of Liaoning Flying Leopards competes during the semifinal between Guangdong Southern Tigers and Liaoning Flying Leopards at the 2021-2022 season of the Chinese Basketball Association league in Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi province, April 12, 2022. (PENG ZHAOZHI / XINHUA)

"We did a good job on defense. Guangdong is the powerhouse in the league and they made the game very tough for us to win," Fu Hao said after the game.

Guo Ailun (center) of Liaoning Flying Leopards breaks through during the semifinal between Guangdong Southern Tigers and Liaoning Flying Leopards at the 2021-2022 season of the Chinese Basketball Association league in Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi province, April 12, 2022. (PENG ZHAOZHI / XINHUA)

Eric Moreland fiercely attacked the paint with tough layups, leading Liaoning to prevail 22-14 in the first quarter. Kyle Fogg and Cong Mingchen buried three-pointers as Liaoning surged a 10-1 run to expand the lead to 23 points at the break. Guangdong narrowed the deficit to 15 points on 43-58 with a 13-6 burst before Liaoning answered a 7-0 run to put the game beyond reach.