Liaoning Panpan had fired head coach Vaisvila Rytis of Lithuania and were seeking for the return of former coach Guo Shiqiang, officials of the club and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) confirmed on Thursday. Panpan's spokesman Wu Di said the club had fired Rytis after they beat Beijing Ducks 114-95 at home on Wednesday night.

"We had communicating problems, which we thought could have be solved after a while. Unfortunately we didn't work out with Vaisvila. We think it would be better for him and for the club (that he leaves the team)," Wu said.

Rytis took Liaoning to the seventh place at the 11th National Games in Shandong before he led the team to a 10-6 record on the sixth place of the CBA standings.

He became the first coach fired by a CBA club this season. Assistant coach Jie Jun will take over his role.

The club is waiting for the return of former national head coach Guo, local reports said. Guo was on a six-month clinic in the United States under a training program held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the CBA.

An anonymous official of the CBA said the CBA would not hinder the return of Guo if he wants to end his clinic earlier and goes back to Liaoning.

Guo is scheduled to take a holiday vocation during the Chinese traditional Lunar New Year on Feb. 13.

Editor: Xie Fang

Source: English.news.cn