“Here they come! Xi Meng is starting his comeback!”
“Does the Chinese team still have any hope of turning the tables? This is it…”
Whether it was the Chinese fans at the venue or those watching on television, they all held their breath, praying to Heaven, Buddha, the Jade Emperor, Marx, God, Jesus… praying that He Xi Meng would make this shot…
But unfortunately, none of the deities possessed him at that moment, and He Xi Meng’s Curry-esque quick-release shot bounced off the rim.
“Ah…” A synchronized sigh escaped the lips of the fans present, filled with regret for He Xi Meng’s missed shot.
Just then, the No. 14 of the Chinese team, weaving through the tight defense of the Yugoslavian team, leaped amidst the crowd. The moment the ball fell, he fiercely tipped it towards the three-point line!
“Again!”
The young prodigy Da Zhi showed a rare display of dominance!
He Xi Meng, receiving the ball outside the three-point line, leaped up again, caught the ball, and then, completely ignoring Bodiroga’s defense, he pulled up for a jump shot, soaring high for a three-pointer!
This shot lacked the smooth, quick-release style of Curry, but possessed the graceful fadeaway of McGrady…
This shot didn't have as high an arc, nor was its trajectory as elegant, but it precisely hit the rim!
“Wow!” The Chinese fans at the venue erupted in cheers.
This incredible cooperation between Da Zhi and He Xi Meng was simply miraculous! And He Xi Meng, having made this fadeaway three-pointer, had finally found his shooting touch. For the Chinese team, this was an excellent sign!
Turning around, the Chinese team desperately tried to disrupt Yugoslavia’s ball movement. He Xi Meng attacked fiercely, attempting to steal the ball from Bodiroga! Alas, luck was not on his side. He Xi Meng’s steal failed, and the referee called him for a foul. Bodiroga, still shaken, stepped up to the free-throw line, wiping sweat from his brow.
Bodiroga, after all, was a European league player…
Yao Ming, struggling to break free from the Yugoslavian center’s hold, sidestepped and swatted away Bodiroga’s seemingly certain dunk.
But unfortunately, the referee’s whistle blew, and Yao Ming’s impressive block was called a foul.
The current Yao Ming dared not argue with the referee and could only clutch his head, watching the countdown clock with a helpless expression.
The countdown clock showed that only 11 seconds remained until the end of the game!
China trailed Yugoslavia by 1 point, 87:88.
If Yao Ming’s block had been successful and not a foul, it would have been a game-turning block… What a shame, what a shame…
“Just a little bit more… just a little bit…” Yao Ming lamented in his heart!
He Xi Meng walked over and patted Yao Ming’s backside, signaling him to relax.
“The game isn’t over yet! What if he misses the free throws? Stay focused, secure the rebound…”
Bodiroga stepped to the free-throw line. His first shot hit the front rim and bounced in, causing a collective gasp from the Yugoslavian fans.
89:87, Yugoslavia led China by two points.
For his second shot, Bodiroga wiped the sweat from his palms before taking the ball from the referee.
In the stands, Chinese fans were doing their best to create noise and disrupt Bodiroga’s shot.
Perhaps the Chinese fans’ efforts paid off, as Bodiroga’s second shot actually bounced off the rim!
He Xi Meng immediately shouted, “Rebound!”
Yao Ming and Da Zhi didn’t need He Xi Meng’s reminder; they immediately entered the paint, turning to box out their opponents.
To get the rebound, you must first secure position! Once your position is secured, the rebound will naturally fall into your hands.
On this play, Yao Ming and Da Zhi were highly focused, securing the best positions immediately and not letting the Yugoslavian team get ahead.
Yugoslavia’s height advantage was already inferior to China’s two towering centers, and coupled with the loss of core positioning, even their aggressive attempts to grab the rebound were unsuccessful.
Yao Ming had a better position and successfully secured the rebound.
The Yugoslavian team refused to give up, attempting to steal the ball from Yao Ming the moment he landed.
Yao Ming’s basketball IQ was very high; he sensed the danger immediately. Instead of pulling the ball back as he normally would, he held it high, avoiding the Yugoslavian players’ attempts to strip it. Then, with a quick step, he immediately passed the scorching hot ball to He Xi Meng, who ran over to receive it!
He Xi Meng caught the ball and, without dribbling, executed an extreme spin move, leaving his pursuing Yugoslavian guard behind!
Due to the extreme speed of his turn, He Xi Meng stumbled, appearing to lose his balance, sending Zhang Bing by the sidelines to cover his head in his hands…