Chapter 123: Run

As a Greek, Latamantis held the Republic in high regard. Beyond the generous salary, his willingness to lower his status to coach such a semi-professional team stemmed from his gratitude toward the Chinese people; when his own country stood on the brink of economic collapse, it was the Chinese of the Republic who had saved it.

Arriving in Jinghai this time, Latamantis felt immense joy. Here, he witnessed a great nation completely different from the descriptions provided by mainstream European media. The people were warm and open, the cities were brand new and modern, and compared to the quaint, weathered feel of Europe, Latamantis felt as if he had stepped into the world of the future.

However, Latamantis was in no mood to appreciate the city’s architecture or its diverse cuisine. With one win and one loss in the group stage, he and his team now faced a must-win situation in their third match. If they failed to advance, it might not have mattered much for the European Chinese Youth Team, but for Latamantis, it would be a profound humiliation.

Regarding their third opponent, Latamantis had been astonished after reviewing the game tapes. He had not expected to find a team with such distinct characteristics in the distant East. Compared to other Republic teams, he felt his opponents—a squad comprised purely of students—played more like a European team, and a highly disciplined one at that.

The chemistry between the players was exceptional, their tactics fluid, and they adapted flexibly to the situation on the court. Most crucially, Latamantis observed that his opponents knew how to run and why they were running—a capability many players lacked, even among some top-tier professional European teams.

Latamantis suddenly developed a deep interest in the opposing coach. He was eager to discover what kind of man he was. When he first met Wang Lei, he was immediately struck by his youth and height. Through the translator’s introduction, Latamantis had already gained a general understanding of Wang Lei's background, and he felt a sense of respect and admiration for such an outstanding young coach.

"Coach Wang, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your team is excellent, and I admire your coaching abilities." After shaking hands, Latamantis began to chat with Wang Lei through the translator.

"Your team is also outstanding, Mr. Latamantis. It is my honor to compete against you."

"Perhaps it is forward of me, but I would like to know if Coach Wang has had any prior exposure to European basketball? Are you interested in coaching in Europe in the future?"

Even the translator was surprised by the question; it was quite extraordinary for a European coach to invite a young Chinese man to coach abroad.

"Er, to be honest, I don't know much about European basketball. I currently have no plans to leave here. Compared to you, my experience is still insufficient. Perhaps in the future, I will have the fortune to travel to Europe."

Wang Lei’s response was formal; he had no idea why this well-known European coach would extend such an invitation.

"You Chinese are always so humble. Honestly, Coach Wang, your abilities are outstanding, not inferior to many coaches. I look forward to meeting you in Europe in the future. Now, let us play a good game."

The match began, and the European Chinese Youth Team easily won the jump ball. Hawul didn't even attempt to jump; the opponent was simply too tall, visibly over 2.10 meters. Against such height, Hawul could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.

The European Chinese Youth Team’s roster might have sounded amateurish, but once on the court, everyone realized they were anything but simple. The tallest player was their center, Alexander Luo, who played for a professional team. Alexander’s father was Chinese, and his mother was of mixed Italian and Brazilian descent; he currently played in the Spanish Basketball League.

Aside from the 2.14-meter Alexander, the two starting forwards for the European Chinese Youth Team were also over two meters tall. Both were also of mixed heritage, with one parent being Chinese or of Chinese descent. Judging by the starting lineup, the European Chinese Youth Team was in no way inferior to an average team; in fact, their physical attributes were even superior.

Once they gained possession, the European Chinese Youth Team immediately pushed to the front court. They set up their half-court offense quickly, and Alexander Luo received the ball in the paint from a teammate’s entry pass.

After catching the ball, Alexander made no wasted movements. Keeping his pivot foot steady, he handed the ball to a teammate cutting toward him, while simultaneously screening the path of the trailing defender, Wang Zhaohui. The teammate who received the pass didn't dribble much, quickly relaying the ball to another teammate in the corner.

There was no space in the corner, so the ball continued to move, returning to Alexander. He continued his role as a pure facilitator. Amidst the rapid-fire passing, a gap appeared in the Frontier Youth Team's defense. Alexander’s teammate sharply identified the opening, cut straight to the basket, caught the ball, and finished with a thunderous dunk.

The European Chinese Youth Team’s coordination was as fluid as flowing water. Each player rarely dribbled, instead relying on constant ball movement to stretch the defense, while their off-ball movement was incredibly active.

Seeing this, Wang Lei frowned. Even though it was only two points, this style of play was what the Frontier Youth Team feared most. The opponents never forced a shot, waiting for the high-percentage opportunity. Their pace appeared fast, but in reality, they were compressing the transition speed, preventing the Frontier Youth Team from playing at their preferred tempo.

When it was Wang Lei’s team’s turn to attack, Turgun brought the ball to the front court and attempted a pick-and-roll with Cai Aihong. The opponent rotated quickly, instantly switching their defensive assignments. Turgun didn't hesitate and passed to Cai Aihong, who immediately attempted a mid-range jumper. However, the defensive pressure was perfect, and the ball rattled off the rim.

Although Hawul had established a good position, the opposing center, Alexander, leaped effortlessly and tipped the rebound away. Cai Aihong tried to chase the ball, but as soon as he moved, he was boxed out by the opposing power forward. It had to be said that Cai Aihong’s physical contact ability was indeed lacking.

After securing the ball, the European Chinese Youth Team did not immediately launch a fast break but instead slowly advanced to the front court. According to their usual habits, they could have pushed the pace, but Coach Latamantis had given strict orders before the game: no fast breaks were allowed; they had to keep the tempo of the game slow and controlled.