BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A new chapter in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league is set to be written as the Finals tip off on Wednesday, featuring a fresh matchup that signals a potential shift in the league's power dynamics.

The Zhejiang Lions are aiming for their first-ever championship in their third Finals appearance, while the Beijing Ducks, returning to the final stage after a decade-long absence, hope to claim the title for a fourth time.

The 2024-25 CBA season finale promises an intriguing showdown, marked by the absence of traditional powerhouses Liaoning Flying Leopards and Guangdong Southern Tigers.

The Lions stormed through the regular season, securing the top seed with an impressive 39-7 record and demonstrating dominance on both ends. Their playoff journey, however, wasn't without adversity. Facing the eighth-seeded Qingdao Eagles in the best-of-five quarterfinals, Zhejiang found itself on the line after trailing 2-1. However, a down-to-the-wire victory allowed the Lions to force a decider back home, where they ultimately survived and advanced.

The Lions bounced back and looked commanding in the semifinals against reigning champion Liaoning. After a convincing 3-0 sweep, Zhejiang ended a run of six-series playoff losing streak against the Flying Leopards.

Beijing climbed to third (32-14) thanks to a strong finish in the regular season. The Ducks navigated the playoffs' first round by defeating city rivals the Royal Fighters 3-1. In the semifinals, they swept the second-ranked Shanxi Loongs 3-0 to reach their first Finals in 10 years.

During the regular season, Zhejiang won both encounters against Beijing, with both victories hard-fought and decided by just four and three points, respectively.

However, playoff history favors Beijing. Between the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons, the Ducks eliminated the Lions in the first round for three consecutive years.

More than a decade later, both rosters look vastly different. Zhai Xiaochuan is one of the few remaining links to Beijing's past championship rosters, while Wang Bo, then a key player for the Lions, now stands court-side as their head coach. Zhejiang's linchpin trio of Hu Jinqiu, Sun Minghui, and Zhao Yanhao were developing in the youth system during those earlier playoff defeats, but they now carry the team's hopes of a maiden championship.

The two teams both face injuries. Zhejiang will be without forward Zhao Jiaren, who was injured during training, while Beijing forward Zeng Fanbo is also ruled out.

Zhejiang appears slightly more balanced on paper, particularly with its depth at the forward position and overseas players fitting seamlessly, and is also boosted by its home-court advantage.

Experience and mental fortitude could lean towards Beijing, as Zhejiang was swept in its previous two Finals appearances while the Ducks have won all their previous trips to the championship series.

As the CBA celebrates its 30th anniversary, the Finals matchup between Zhejiang and Beijing heralds the beginning of a potentially reshaped landscape for the league. ■