Chapter 114: Wolf and Tiger (Part Two)

The Frontier Youth Team had always been at a disadvantage when it came to the tip-off. Their roster lacked a player of true height; their tallest, Cai Aihong, stood just over two meters—hardly impressive for this level of competition. In truth, Cai’s leaping ability was limited, and he relied purely on stamina and a soft touch.

Havul, who usually handled the jump balls, possessed decent leaping ability and strength, but he stood only 1.96 meters tall. Consequently, when facing Hong Kai, the 2.09-meter center from the Guangdong Provincial Youth Team, Havul merely went through the motions. Hong Kai carefully tapped the ball to his teammates, and the Guangdong squad secured possession.

Generally, northern players are expected to hold a height advantage over their southern counterparts, while the latter are noted for agility and explosiveness. However, the roles were reversed here: the Frontier Youth Team favored fast breaks and perimeter shooting, while the Guangdong Youth Team relied on an inside-out approach, anchored by their core interior players.

In reality, Guangdong’s perimeter was also formidable. Their point guard, Zhao Yongji, was not particularly tall, but he was a standout who had represented the national youth team. His scoring ability was exceptional, and his explosiveness and speed were top-tier for his age.

Nevertheless, the prevailing trend in the Republic—and indeed globally—was an interior-centric style of play. Even when not explicitly so, most teams relied on defensive transitions and interior pivots. As the saying goes, followers emulate their leaders, and most teams followed suit. Some had considered emphasizing the perimeter, but they were trapped within the confines of conventional thinking. Intellectual breadth is often constrained by one's environment; without the ability to break free from these circles, it is impossible to innovate on the perimeter. Wang Lei was only able to build such a team because he had started from outside that circle; without the perspective of his past life on Earth, he likely could not have achieved this on his own.

After receiving the ball, Zhao Yongji steadied himself and waited for his teammates to cross half-court before advancing. Turgun pressured him closely. Although Turgun held a height advantage, his physique made it clear he was no match for Zhao in terms of raw strength.

Once the Guangdong squad set up, Hong Kai occupied the 45-degree angle. Rather than isolating, Zhao lofted the ball into the paint. The Frontier team employed a man-to-man defense, with Havul bodying Hong Kai from behind.

Before the game, Guangdong’s head coach, Li Baofeng, had provided a detailed scouting report. Despite the opponent's unassuming appearance, Li did not take them lightly. Finishing first in the powerhouse-laden Northern Division was proof enough of the Frontier team’s quality; Li dared not underestimate Wang Lei and his squad.

Upon receiving the ball, Hong Kai immediately felt Havul’s immense strength. The coach had warned him that the Frontier team’s undersized center was physically imposing, if somewhat inexperienced. Hong Kai decided to go for an immediate isolation to set the tone.

After waiting for his teammates to clear the space, Hong Kai pivoted to face Havul and faked a shot. The inexperienced Havul did not bite, nor did he rashly close the distance; he simply kept a hand up to obscure Hong Kai’s vision. Seeing the opponent unmoved and a double-team closing in, Hong Kai went ahead and shot.

Havul’s lack of height meant it was too late to contest the shot. Despite the slight disruption to his rhythm, Hong Kai maintained excellent touch and control. The ball swished through the hoop, and the Guangdong Youth Team drew first blood.

Wang Lei had not required his team to run their usual zone defense, knowing that trying to contain the Guangdong squad with a zone was unlikely to succeed, given their strength both inside and out.

After Turgun crossed half-court, he was met by Zhao Yongji’s stifling defense. Facing the distinctive-looking and stylishly playing Turgun, Zhao felt a twinge of jealousy. Although he was now a core player for the Guangdong Chaozhou Chamber of Commerce Youth Team, his own basketball journey had not been smooth. At Turgun’s age, he had been nothing more than a benchwarmer who kept the water bottles filled and waved towels. That a high schooler who hadn't even undergone professional training could lead a team as a starting point guard left Zhao with mixed emotions.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhao wanted to teach Turgun a lesson, playing with great intensity and physical rigor.

Undeterred by the pressure, Turgun dribbled with a series of crossovers and shook off Zhao with a high screen from Cai Aihong. Hong Kai dared not be careless and immediately rotated to contest; everyone who had watched the Frontier team knew how accurate their point guard’s shot was.

However, Turgun executed a crafty behind-the-back pass to Cai Aihong, who had pinned Zhao under the basket. Without hesitation, Cai rose up against the much shorter Zhao and shot.

The ball found the net with precision. Like Turgun, Cai Aihong had started the game in excellent form. Both teams began smoothly, their strategies simple, relying on small-group, two- or three-man combinations.

Just as the Frontier players were retreating, the Guangdong Youth Team—usually a team that preferred set offenses—suddenly shifted gears. Hong Kai, inbounding from the baseline, threw a full-court pass to Zhao Yongji near the center circle.

Zhao accelerated as soon as he caught the ball. The Frontier defense hadn't yet set, with only Turgun back in position. Facing Turgun’s defensive pressure, Zhao went up for a forceful layup. Turgun had underestimated Zhao’s explosiveness; he not only lost his defensive position but also allowed the basket to go in. A whistle blew, and the referee called a foul on Turgun.

The sudden shift in Guangdong’s tactics caught even the quick-footed Frontier team off guard. On the sidelines, Wang Lei frowned; it appeared his opponents were a team with a clear plan. Turgun rubbed his hair in frustration, realizing he shouldn't have committed to the contest once the opponent had already left the ground—not only had he failed to stop the basket, but he had also picked up a foul.