After the Chinese team's upset victory over Spain, the results of other matchups also came in.
The Yugoslavian team defeated their old rivals, the Lithuanian team, and advanced to the semifinals.
The host nation, Greece, utilized their home-court advantage to narrowly defeat Argentina by one point… and it was truly an advantage by the referee's calls! The whistle blew so often that the Argentinians were on the verge of violence! This led to the entire Argentinian team refusing to shake hands with the referees after the game.
It was too rigged! They were afraid of getting their hands dirty…
However, the host nation seemed unconcerned. They would use their home-court advantage if it benefited them, and they didn't care what teams or fans from other countries thought, as long as their own fans continued to support them…
The American team's experience was not much better than Greece's. The Italian team, playing with all their might, unleashed a sharp outside attack that left the American team in disarray. For the first three and a half quarters, the American team was in a constant struggle to catch up. It wasn't until the final quarter that the American team, taking advantage of the Italian team's severe fatigue and a significant drop in their three-point shooting percentage, managed to tie the game by attacking the basket. They then narrowly won in overtime, preventing the Italians from blocking them from the semifinals.
The performance of the American team invigorated fans outside of the US.
While the former American Dream Team was the pinnacle of world basketball, this year's American team clearly didn't deserve the Dream Team title. This meant that other strong teams had a chance to defeat this American team themselves…
However, the American domestic media, ignoring the various weaknesses displayed by this American team throughout the tournament, chose to willfully disregard them, clearly still immersed in the glory of the Dream Team.
Before the game against the Chinese team, they optimistically declared: "The Chinese team's Cinderella run ends here!"
"American basketball will forever stand at the top of the world!"
"The American team has no rivals!"
"He Xi Meng will not gain any advantage from the American team!"
"America trained He Xi Meng, and America also trained the American team!"
…
In short, no media outlet in the US favored the Chinese team to defeat the American team and advance to the finals. The players on the American team didn't even bother watching tapes of the Chinese team's previous games. Their impression of the Chinese team was solely based on He Xi Meng's playing style and demonstrated strength with the Lakers, as if He Xi Meng was the only one who could play on the Chinese team and the others posed no threat…
In contrast, the domestic media seemed to have no one who believed the Chinese team could defeat the American team and reach the final. Most media outlets were discussing whether the Chinese team should conserve their energy for the next game.
This was an old, recurring question. Every time the Chinese team faced a relatively strong opponent, from management down to the media and fans, they wanted to know if the Chinese team should strategically concede.
As if strategically conceding this game would definitely increase their chances of winning the next one…
However, in competitive sports, strategic concession is easy, but strategic resurgence is very difficult.
The Chinese team had finally built momentum and spirit in this year's World Championship, a moment for pushing forward with all their might, and yet the soul-searching question returned…
Zhang Bing, with a look of hesitation, called He Xi Meng to his room alone. Before he could speak, He Xi Meng directly cut him off, saying, "Don't even talk about conceding!"
Zhang Bing's intended question was shut down by He Xi Meng's single sentence, so he had to rephrase it: "Do we really have a chance to win?"
"Is that even a question? The whole world saw how weak this American team is. Surely you've noticed that too?"
"I've noticed it…" Zhang Bing said sheepishly. "Noticing it is one thing, but executing it is another. As weak as this American team is, haven't they won every game from the group stage to get here?"
"Winning is one thing, but how you win is another! Have you forgotten how the former Dream Team won games, and how the current American team wins? If this American team didn't have luck on their side, they would have lost three or four games already… Of course, this also has to do with their opponents not stepping up! Because other teams weren't psychologically prepared to defeat the American team! So when the opportunity suddenly presented itself, they almost didn't know how to play, becoming hesitant and anxious… like you are now…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You're even teasing your senior uncle now…" Zhang Bing didn't hesitate to tap He Xi Meng on the forehead, stunning him.
Damn it! He Xi Meng couldn't even remember the name of the last person who dared to tap his forehead like that…
"Looking back, I am your head coach! Looking at it more closely, I am your coach's senior brother, which makes me your senior uncle… You should at least respect your elders, right? Besides, I haven't treated you unfairly in this World Championship, have I?"
To be honest, apart from his occasional playful slap, Old Zhang had indeed treated He Xi Meng well! He was able to listen to He Xi Meng's advice at crucial moments, not being too stubborn or rigid, which was what He Xi Meng admired most about Zhang Bing.
Of course, He Xi Meng also lived up to Zhang Bing's trust, not only helping Zhang Bing achieve his goal for this World Championship: reaching the quarterfinals, but also successfully helping Zhang Bing break the historical best record for the Chinese men's basketball team by reaching the semifinals!
Logically speaking, Zhang Bing should now be content. Even if the Chinese team lost both of the next two games, the success of finishing fourth in the World Championship would be enough for Zhang Bing to return home to a hero's welcome and accolades.
But humans are like this! They always desire more. Since the Chinese team had already made it to the semifinals, they naturally hoped to push a little further and break into the top three!
They couldn't dream of winning the championship, but what about third place?
Zhang Bing thought that third place was the limit of what he could achieve. He never imagined that He Xi Meng, even before deciding to join the team, had already set his sights higher: either don't come at all, or if he came, seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and aim for the championship!
"I guarantee you won't encounter such a weak American team in the next ten years!"
"You mean, we continue to fight?"
"Of course, we fight! Defeat America, advance to the finals, and battle Yugoslavia!"
"Wait a minute! How do you know Yugoslavia will reach the finals, and not the host nation Greece?"
"Uh…" He Xi Meng was momentarily stunned, realizing he might have let something slip. But he quickly recovered. "Who cares if it's Greece or Yugoslavia? Our goal now is to take down the Americans! Let's get to the finals first…"
After stabilizing Zhang Bing's emotions, He Xi Meng also unified the thoughts of his teammates.
"If we miss this village, there won't be this shop. Brothers! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has fallen into our hands! As long as we defeat this second-rate American team opposite us, we have a chance to directly contend for the World Championship title! The World Championship title! The championship is right in front of us, so why should we still be thinking about third place?"
"In a word, I'll fight first! Didn't they always say the American team is god-level in the world of basketball? In this game, I'm going to slay a god!" Although He Xi Meng's words were crude, they were powerful!
Head coach Zhang Bing quickly signaled He Xi Meng, indicating that the sports channel was broadcasting live.
But tens of thousands of Chinese fans had already heard He Xi Meng's declaration of god-slaying through the broadcast…