Lao Hu was not only a passionate basketball fan but also an ardent lover of Wuxia.
The moment He Ximeng was stunned, Lao Hu mistook it for He Ximeng's approval of his "Wuxia" philosophy. He grinned and extended his hands…
Not to mention, Lao Hu was quite handsome in his youth, no wonder he was so popular! Including those slightly dazed eyes…
He Ximeng didn't hesitate, he grabbed Lao Hu's hands and stood up!
The venue erupted in warm applause, for He Ximeng, and for Hu Weidong!
Games have winners and losers, but basketball has no losers.
Moreover, whether it was Hu Weidong or He Ximeng, in the end, they were both the future of Chinese basketball. No one wanted to see a genius fall…
This precious moment was captured by a basketball reporter at the scene. Little did he realize then that this photo would become one of the most treasured moments in the history of Chinese basketball years later…
The referee, to be on the safe side, had called for doctors from the emergency department of the local hospital to handle any emergencies. Seeing He Ximeng seemingly revived, he was still not entirely at ease. He insisted that the doctor ask He Ximeng a few questions to confirm he had no concussion before allowing He Ximeng back on the court.
He Ximeng stepped up to the free-throw line, took a deep breath, and shot steadily, making the additional free throw!
81:77, He Ximeng sealed the victory with a 2+1.
Although in the final seconds, Hu Weidong sprinted past half-court with the ball and, guarded by He Ximeng, hit an extremely long three-pointer from beyond the arc, the referee also blew the whistle, ending the game.
81:80, Zhuji Middle School narrowly defeated Nanjing No. 9 High School by one point, eliminating last year's Eastern Conference champions from the stage, once again pulling off a major upset!
He Ximeng finally had a breakout offensive game, hitting 6 three-pointers and scoring a game-high 32 points and 10 assists, even more dazzling than Hu Weidong's 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, completely blinding the audience!
Those analysts who had lamented He Ximeng's inability to shoot and score wished they could gouge out their titanium alloy eyes…
As the losing team, Hu Weidong, though regretful that they couldn't continue to compete in the national tournament, accepted the outcome calmly.
"By the way, Liu Yudong asked me to give you a message, saying he's waiting for you on the professional league stage…"
"Us?"
"Yes, along with Gong Xiaobin and Liu Wei. The three of you were specifically named by Liu Yudong for me to convey this message to…"
"That guy, he's really a jinx… Never mind, I'll leave the national tournament to you. Maybe I should consider the Jiangsu Youth Team's invitation…"
"I wish you freedom from injuries and great success in the professional league!"
"Thank you for your kind words! We'll compete again on the professional league court…"
"Oh, right, Liu Yudong seems to have left the youth team and been promoted to the reserve list of the adult team…"
"Damn it! So fast, looks like I need to hurry up too! I can't fall behind that guy anymore…"
The two hugged and parted ways, returning to their respective benches to pack their belongings.
Compared to their victory over the Zhejiang Division champions last time, Zhuji Middle School was not as excited this time after defeating the higher-ranked Eastern Division champions. It was as if this victory was their rightful spoils…
This indicated that Zhuji Middle School's team confidence had greatly improved. They no longer considered themselves a level below other teams. Even the defending champions of the Eastern Conference Finals were just on the same level as them, with the outcome of the game uncertain.
Seeing the changes in his teammates, He Ximeng felt gratified and showed a benevolent smile like a doting father…
"Ximeng, are you alright? Are you still feeling unwell?" Zhang Tianai suddenly leaned in, her face full of concern.
"No! I'm fine!"
"Then why do you have that look of having no regrets in death… You scared me to death…"
"Uh… I might just be happy after winning…"
"You'd better not smile like that… It scares me…"
"Alright! I'll change…"
The Eastern Conference semifinals saw two major upsets. Last year's Eastern Conference champions, Huipu Middle School and Nanjing No. 9 High School, were eliminated one after another, replaced by the newly emerged Nanmo Middle School and Zhuji Middle School!
Nanmo Middle School was at least a top-four team in the East last year. Zhuji Middle School, a dark horse that didn't even qualify for the Eastern Conference qualifiers last year, had fought their way through, defeating a host of provincial powerhouses to secure a spot in the national finals!
In the afternoon games, Nanjing No. 9 High School and Huipu Middle School had a third-place playoff match!
Nanjing No. 9 High School did not hide their strength as they had in the group stage this time. With the support of their teammates, Hu Weidong went all out, engaging in a top-tier duel on the high school court with Zheng Wu!
Ultimately, Nanjing No. 9 High School, relying on Hu Weidong's three consecutive three-pointers in the final quarter, established a scoring advantage with a decisive run and finally defeated Huipu Middle School, avenging their group stage loss.
The final championship game was held between Zhuji Middle School and Nanmo Middle School!
Although Nanmo Middle School wanted to emulate Nanjing No. 9 High School and avenge their group stage loss, Zhuji Middle School did not give Nanmo Middle School any opportunities.
He Ximeng's overall strategy against Nanmo Middle School remained unchanged!
Against Yao Ming, they continued to play tough defense, denying him easy opportunities in the paint.
Against Liu Wei, they continued to utilize his excellent anticipation to constantly pressure Liu Wei and disrupt Nanmo Middle School's offensive organization.
Due to Yao Ming's presence, they couldn't afford to double-team other positions. Therefore, against Zhang Wenqi, they primarily relied on Zhang Zhenpeng's individual ability to match up and go head-to-head.
When Zhuji Middle School first employed this series of tactics in the group stage, it was highly effective. By focusing their pressure and dividing the opponent's forces, Nanmo Middle School was consistently unable to mount a systematic offense.
However, having been targeted once before, Nanmo Middle School had made corresponding preparations for this second encounter. This included Liu Wei reducing his ball-holding time and Yao Ming increasing his off-ball movement. Yet, the results were still unsatisfactory!
This was because, compared to the previous game, Zhuji Middle School had also made some adjustments. Primarily on offense, He Ximeng no longer held back but went all out!
Nanmo Middle School had to defend both He Ximeng's passes and his offense. Their defensive focus was constantly dictated by He Ximeng, preventing them from seizing control of the game.
In this match, He Ximeng's scoring, while not as outrageous as in the previous game against Nanjing No. 9 High School, remained consistently stable from beyond the three-point line. He made 5 out of 8 attempts, scoring a team-high 24 points and 11 assists, leading his team to a double-win against Nanmo Middle School!