Chapter 130: No Basketball Without Passion (Part 1)

Yue Minghua’s embrace was warm and forceful, matching his towering height of over two meters and weight of 120 kilograms.

Once hailed as the "noble prince" of the basketball court in the late 1990s, Yue Minghua now appeared as a robust, solidly built middle-aged man. No one would have expected that the graceful mid-range shooter and unstoppable post player known as "Young Master Yue" would become such an impassioned and fiery coach after retirement. His nickname stemmed from a famous photo of him in traditional costume taken at the peak of his career—a photo that still occasionally resurfaces in the media, with Yue’s ancient attire making him appear more handsome than many contemporary celebrities.

"Good job, kid. I’m proud of you," Yue said, his northern accent thick but sincere.

Though Yue’s ancestral home was in Fujian Province, his career had mostly unfolded in the north, and his speech and demeanor bore the hallmark of a northern man’s straightforwardness.

“You’re impressive too, big brother. You’ve got to look out for me today—my guys haven’t faced many tough battles,” Wang Lei replied respectfully.

Since joining the national team, Wang Lei had always called Yue Minghua "big brother," as did the other young players, and Yue treated them with genuine brotherly care.

“Nonsense. I’ve watched your games. Apart from being a bit soft, you’re strong all around. I won’t go easy on you. Play hard. If you beat me fair and square, I’ll accept it.”

Yue Minghua was casual in many things but approached basketball with utmost seriousness and passion. Perhaps it was this very nature that led to his success. Wang Lei still remembered the time Yue scolded him sharply during training for slacking off, a reprimand that opened his eyes to the importance of discipline.

After their friendly exchange, it was time for the real contest. Yue Minghua was resolute—having reached the quarterfinals, he was unwilling to go home early. His instructions to his players were simple: fight with everything they had.

As the game began, the Fujian Province Youth Team gained possession thanks to their mixed-race center, Tang Song, who used his height and jumping ability to secure the ball.

Tang Song was of Central African and Chinese descent. His father, Donald, an African immigrant who had settled in Fujian and become one of the earliest African nationals of the Republic, had a profound love for classical Chinese poetry, which inspired Tang Song’s name.

Standing at 2.06 meters, Tang Song was the linchpin of the Fujian youth team’s inside game. While his height was average for a center, his inherited superior physique endowed him with astonishing vertical leap, often thrilling spectators with thunderous dunks.

The Fujian team’s offense was conservative. Unlike in his playing days, when Yue Minghua was famed for his offensive prowess, as a coach he emphasized defense over flashy attacks. Their offense revolved primarily around Tang Song.

Hawul was tightly guarding Tang Song from behind but felt a different kind of pressure than in previous matches. This tall, dark-skinned young man demonstrated what true physicality meant.

Receiving a lob pass from the perimeter, Tang Song made no extra motions—simply dribbled, backed down his defender with sheer strength, then spun and shot.

His technique was straightforward, but combined with his powerful physique, long strides, and fluid quickness, he released the ball dangerously close to the basket before Cai Aihong’s double-team could arrive.

The shot went in smoothly. Hawul was pushed back several steps by Tang Song’s force, a clear testament to the mixed-race player’s remarkable strength.

“Leg and core strength rated at ninety percent. This guy’s footwork is rock solid,” Wang Lei muttered from the sidelines. From that single play, he could see how outstanding Yue’s players were. At just twenty years old, Tang Song’s formidable physicality suited this style perfectly.

The Border Youth Team took possession. After receiving the inbound pass near the baseline, Turgun suddenly accelerated. The Border team surged forward as if launching a fast break. Their opponents’ retreat was slightly sluggish, but just as Turgun prepared to shake off the defender blocking his path, the Fujian player showed no hesitation—he grabbed Turgun and brought him down to the floor.

Though there was no roughness and the player even helped Turgun up afterward, the sheer decisiveness of the move was enough to convey pain and resolve.

The Fujian players retreated to their half after helping the grimacing Turgun to his feet. Yue Minghua’s coaching was clearly meticulous—resolute, bold, and responsible. Even the Border players who had been poised to press forward found themselves speechless.

The game settled into a half-court battle. The Border team began running plays, but Fujian’s defense was exceptional. Though man-to-man, every Fujian player defended with relentless intensity, engaging in physical contests that felt like “body-hair-level” defense, leaving the Border players, especially ball-handler Turgun, struggling to adapt.

Turgun’s physique was naturally fragile due to illness. His survival in basketball owed much to Wang Lei’s nurturing and his own keen court sense. Though his physical condition had improved significantly since his early days, facing such fierce defense still exposed his greatest weakness.

Using Hawul’s screen to gain some space on the outside, Turgun gritted his teeth and prepared to shoot a three-pointer. But the opposing defender was already in position to contest.

With no room to shoot, Turgun passed to Cai Aihong, who was ready to receive.

As the shot clock wound down, the Border team found few suitable opportunities. In the final seconds, Turgun forced a contested three-pointer under heavy defense, but the ball bounced off the rim.

Wang Lei frowned on the sidelines. He knew Yue’s team was famed for defense but hadn’t expected a youth squad to execute it so thoroughly. Many teams the Border team had faced before were overwhelmed by their opponents’ powerful offense. Now, with their own offense stifled by Fujian’s fierce defense, the outcome hung in the balance, uncertain as to which side would prevail.