Chapter 139: The Gap with the World

Liu Sicheng was at his wit's end as the point gap widened. Entering the third quarter, he hoped the team could manifest a gritty, iron-willed defense to stifle the Frontier Youth team’s momentum and, in turn, ignite the team's spirit.

After the first half, Liu knew that trying to outscore the Frontier Youth team was a losing battle. While their offensive threats seemed concentrated, he was well aware that their role players were far from incompetent. Yet, even after adjusting his tactical approach in the third quarter, he found himself unable to contain their onslaught. If the first half had been a solo showcase for Turgun and Cai Aihong, the second half became a full-team shooting exhibition for the Frontier Youth.

They blossomed everywhere, attacking from all angles. Once the Capital Youth team tightened their defense on the core players, Turgun and Cai Aihong stopped holding onto the ball. Instead, they increased their passing and coordination with teammates, using their own gravity to create ample shooting space for others. Liu Sicheng could think of no strategy to counter this; his mindset was too rigid, hopelessly mired in the glories of the past.

"This kid is really something now. After all, they’re our Beijing team; he could have left a little face for the home folks," remarked Zhang Laopao, who was watching from the sidelines with Ma Pingdong. As the score pulled away, he felt a natural urge to defend his own. Being a true Beijing native, he felt Wang Lei was being a bit too ruthless.

"What do you know? The current head coach of our Capital Youth team is a real piece of work," Ma Pingdong countered. "Back when my boy Lei was playing, he was the one leading the youth team, and for some reason, he always looked down on Lei. During the last qualifiers, this jerk got schooled by Lei, and later, during that whole mess with Meimei, he kept spreading rumors about Lei online. I think Lei is being quite generous as it is."

Ma Pingdong was immensely satisfied with Wang Lei. He was capable, responsible, and a young man he had watched grow up—there was no one he trusted more. Naturally, he viewed the game and its conflicts through Wang Lei’s perspective.

"Damn, is that so? Then this guy really is trash. Serves him right; it would be best if they fired him later."

After hearing Ma Pingdong’s explanation, Zhang Laopao stopped feeling sorry for the Capital Youth team. After all, his own return to the spotlight was thanks to Wang Lei’s "creative" efforts.

By the end of the third quarter, the outcome was essentially decided. A twenty-two-point deficit left the Capital Youth players unable to hold their heads high. They had certainly fought hard, but they could not limit their opponent's scoring. Compared to their last encounter, the Frontier Youth team now felt insurmountable.

As the fourth quarter began, Wang Lei adjusted his lineup. He wasn't the type to be unnecessarily cruel. Even though he found Liu Sicheng repulsive, he didn't aim to humiliate his opponent. Ultimately, the Frontier Youth team secured a victory with a sixteen-point lead. They would advance to the final on the day before the closing ceremony of the National Games, facing the North American Chinese Youth United team, who had stormed into the finals in their first domestic appearance.

Liu Sicheng and his team left the court in silence. Liu didn't even shake Wang Lei’s hand; he had no desire for further awkward confrontation.

Zhang Laopao and Ma Pingdong chatted with Wang Lei on the sidelines for a while, and Wang Lei handed them tickets to the final. Since Beijing was so close to Jinghai, it was convenient for them to attend. Before leaving, Zhang Laopao hesitated, wanting to urge Wang Lei to focus on his music, but the words died in his throat; it was clear that Wang Lei was excelling as a coach.

For Wang Lei, the opponent in the final was formidable, even though the team had been assembled for less than eight months and contained no professional players. Like the Frontier Youth, they had no professional league experience; they were all Chinese youths from various North American universities or mixed-race individuals of Chinese descent.

However, unlike the Frontier Youth, this North American team had only been formed at the beginning of the year, with less than a month of collective training. One month of practice, followed by a sweep of the qualifiers and a top-seed entry into the finals—where they had outscored opponents by an average of 24.5 points—was a testament to their strength and a stark illustration of the gap between Republic youth basketball and the world elite.

As in the real world, the best professional basketball league remained in North America. Compared to the nation that invented the sport, the Republic’s basketball development had been trailing from the start. Although the Republic stood toe-to-toe with the Western world through sheer economic power and prestige, one had to admit there was a gap in basketball, even if the Republic had remained a top-five contender in recent years.

In North America, where the sport was most developed, nearly every state hosted popular student leagues at all levels—from primary and secondary school competitions to university leagues that could draw more attention than professional ones. With such a strong foundation, combined with inherent physical talent and the advantages of a diverse immigrant population, the number of base-level players in North America exceeded that of the rest of the world combined.

The number of Chinese living in North America was high. In the past, when the Republic’s status was low, they faced discrimination. But now, while not the mainstream, they were no longer a marginalized or targeted group. With their rising status, many children of Chinese families were no longer just focused on academics; they actively participated in sports, with basketball being the most popular.

With this foundation and their improved status, a significant number of talented Chinese players began to emerge. North American universities, in turn, favored these players for their high basketball IQ and emotional intelligence; sometimes, a sharp mind was more valuable than raw physical talent.