Chapter Seventy-six: Semifinals (II)

The match was about to begin.

This game would be broadcast live on CCTV5, with renowned basketball commentators Su Qun and Yang Yi providing commentary throughout. On the television screen, both of their faces were lit up with smiles, perhaps because it was their first time commentating a national high school basketball league semifinal. Yet, seeing the court filled with spirited young men from their own country, their moods naturally became quite cheerful.

Su Qun was still focused on the materials laid out on the commentary desk when Yang Yi began, “Hello to all friends at the venue and watching on television. The national high school basketball league semifinal is officially underway. I’m today’s commentator, Yang Yi.”

“And I’m today’s commentator, Su Qun.”

As chief editor of Basketball Pioneer and its deputy, Su Qun and Yang Yi’s expertise was unquestionable, and regular basketball viewers were quite familiar with their commentary style.

“You can see the venue is packed today—the enthusiasm of the fans is extraordinary,” Yang Yi continued.

With the starting lineups from both sides entering the court, the cheers from the audience instantly soared to the heavens.

The starters for Jiangyuan High School were: Tiramisu, Di Reba, Guza, Harik, and Batul.

They were all sons of the grasslands, youths raised on horseback. Each had darker skin and an unyielding expression.

Yangcheng High School’s starters were: Wang Shiying, Su Yuxiang, Yang Wendong, Wu Fan, and Cai Kun.

Compared to their opponents, these five appeared much more refined in features. Of course, basketball skill had little to do with looks.

When the camera focused on Yangcheng’s captain, Wang Shiying, his tall frame at 188 centimeters, sharp brows and clear eyes, gave him a clean appearance beneath which lurked a keen gaze.

Immediately, the audience from East China erupted into fierce cheers.

When the shot fell on Jiangyuan’s captain, Tiramisu, the cheers grew even more intense.

“The grassland people are certainly more bold and exuberant!” Yang Yi joked, noting that the first round of fan rivalry had been won by the West China supporters.

This was thanks to the official’s recent rule: no drums or musical instruments like those seen at the Lingnan fans’ previous match would be permitted. Otherwise, the grassland community would have turned the venue into their grand ensemble.

...

The game finally began. Yangcheng High School sent Su Yuxiang to contest the jump ball; at 198 centimeters, he was only a sophomore.

Jiangyuan High School’s contestant was Harik, also 198 centimeters, but noticeably more robust.

The referee, holding the basketball with one hand, approached the pair standing at center court and tossed the ball upward.

The ball rose almost perfectly vertical to the center line—a testament to the national-level referee from the Sports Bureau.

Both Su Yuxiang and Harik were seasoned; no weaklings made it to the semifinals.

They focused intently on the ball as its ascent slowed. At the instant it paused at its peak and began to drop, both leaped skyward, nearly reaching identical heights.

Harik, with greater explosive strength, rose faster, touching the ball first and sending it toward Tiramisu.

Jiangyuan High School quickly seized possession and pushed forward as a unit.

Su Yuxiang, who lost the jump, showed no emotion and briskly retreated with his team for defense.

Yangcheng High School opened with the common zone defense.

Tiramisu, with wheat-colored skin, flashed a confident smile, his large white teeth gleaming in the camera.

As he dribbled to the three-point line, he prepared to shoot.

But Wang Shiying, positioned at the front of the zone, stepped forward quickly, raising his hand and denying him a chance at the three.

Tiramisu didn’t force the shot but dribbled sideways.

Wang Shiying followed, but was blocked by Harik, who was already in position.

So, Tiramisu decisively launched a three-point attempt.

Luck wasn’t on his side—the ball bounced off the back rim and was rebounded by Su Yuxiang beneath the basket.

Tiramisu looked regretful, but quickly returned to defense.

Now it was Yangcheng’s turn to attack.

Wang Shiying also opted for a three-pointer, pulling up as soon as he reached the arc.

At 188 centimeters, his form was picture-perfect, reminiscent of Tracy McGrady.

Tiramisu defended swiftly, but Wang Shiying released the ball quickly and, with his height advantage, was unimpeded.

The ball traced a beautiful arc and swished cleanly through the net.

“A very sharp pull-up three—first place on the scoring chart, and rightfully so!” Su Qun commented for the first time.

“Indeed,” Yang Yi nodded in agreement.

To the veteran analysts, Wang Shiying was the leader among the current generation of domestic basketball stars.

Matched by his opponent's three-pointer, Tiramisu wasted no time, leading his team forward after the inbound.

Arriving once more at the three-point line, he launched another three with Harik’s screen.

This time, the ball’s trajectory was perfect, and it seemed destined for the basket.

But it bounced off the back rim again.

“Looks like Tiramisu’s touch isn’t great today!” Yang Yi remarked into the microphone.

Su Qun was about to respond when Yang Yi continued, “But could this be Jiangyuan High School’s tactical strategy?”

Su Qun fell silent.

Meanwhile, Coach Abuda of Jiangyuan, sitting on the bench, smiled at the remark.

Nothing escaped these two experts.

On the court, Yangcheng’s second attack saw Wang Shiying break through for a two-point score.

Jiangyuan’s third attack was yet another three-point attempt by Tiramisu.

This time, under thousands of eyes, the ball finally found the net.

Coach Abuda showed a relieved expression.

From then on, Tiramisu unleashed his full firepower, repeatedly shooting from outside with increasing accuracy.

With the team setting screens for him, the shooting environment was excellent.

Yangcheng High School had to stretch their zone defense, with nearly everyone stepping two paces in front of the arc for timely coverage.

But this was anticipated by Jiangyuan.

Tiramisu stopped shooting solo and began to circulate the ball.

Di Reba, Guza, and Batul could all shoot threes, though their accuracy wasn’t as high as Tiramisu’s.

As each took more shots, their rhythm improved and their accuracy became impressive.

Yangcheng High School found no solution, as Jiangyuan’s stamina was formidable. Aside from Harik, the other four moved constantly, never stopping their feet—whenever they paused, it was to shoot an open three.

Yangcheng’s offense was decent, but threes always outscored twos.

As the gap widened, Jiangyuan finished the first quarter with a double-digit, 10-point lead.

Su Qun commented, “Jiangyuan High School executes its tactics superbly—the three-point strategy fully leverages their speed and stamina advantages.”

Yang Yi added, “Exactly. Judging by their three-point accuracy and quick, skilled transitions, they’ve practiced this strategy for a long time.”

Su Qun concluded, “We’ll see how Yangcheng adjusts in the second quarter.”

On the sidelines, Yangcheng’s coach Xiao Ran comforted his resting players and laid out the second-quarter adjustments.

He had long wanted to call a timeout, but pressure from above meant Yangcheng, as the uncrowned champions, couldn’t show weakness by calling time before their opponents.

Xiao Ran felt helpless; basketball was, after all, a tactical sport.

The opponent made a move, he had to counter.

He couldn’t just sit and fret, yet he believed in his own and his players’ abilities—a ten-point deficit could be made up in the second quarter, and he already had a plan.

In the VIP suite, Yao Ming said to Lin Lang as the first quarter ended, “Jiangyuan’s approach is a bit like the three-point strategy now popular in the NBA.”

Lin Lang nodded and replied, “We’ll see how Yangcheng responds in the second quarter.”

Suddenly, Lin Lang thought of the four semifinal teams and found it particularly interesting.

Jiangyuan, judging from this quarter, played like the NBA’s soon-to-be-popular small-ball strategy, perfected and popularized by Curry.

Dongshan High School had five or six players over 195 centimeters, with the tallest, Gao Shantai, at 207. Among high schoolers, they were a camp of giants.

Their style echoed the NBA’s past trend of the giant lineup—five towers all around 215 centimeters.

Yangcheng High School represented the common lineup and tactics of the present—diverse players, balanced strength.

As for Qingshui First High, the divine hook Zhao Zhongshi and his son Lin Nan, who boasted excellent physicality and skill, evoked the NBA’s ancient or past decade.

In sum, the four semifinalists embodied the past, present, imminent future, and the years ahead.

The more Lin Lang thought about it, the more amusing it seemed, though this delight was his alone.

Now, all that remained was to see who would claim the championship.

In another VIP suite, Coach Gorilla, having watched this year’s tournament, couldn’t help but sigh: every semifinal team was formidable. Jiangyuan’s tactics this quarter matched exactly what his own team had practiced recently.

Moreover, Jiangyuan had mastered the strategy—their lineup was perfectly suited for a three-point approach.

Coach Gorilla was eager to see how Yangcheng would respond.

The second quarter began, and Coach Abuda of Jiangyuan was supremely confident in his tactics.

From the first quarter, his players’ three-point shooting was flowing, their touch hot.

Their greatest advantage was endurance—they could endlessly run and set screens to find open three-point shots.

Combined, the three-point strategy seemed tailor-made for Jiangyuan.

But Coach Abuda never expected that Yangcheng would choose to challenge them on stamina!