Chapter 108: Advancement and Attention (Part Two)

As June drew to a close, Wang Lei’s team faced their seventh match in the current qualifying tournament. For the Frontier Youth Team, which had already secured six consecutive victories, this seventh round was crucial. A win here would guarantee their advancement to the final stage two rounds early. Their opponent was the formidable Shan Jin Province Youth Team—a team known for its strength.

The significance of this match was unmistakable. Since defeating the Capital Youth Team, Wang Lei’s squad had received substantial support from the Frontier Sports Administration Center. Moreover, this game was to be played on their home court, underscoring how seriously the provincial sports authorities regarded this encounter.

Tickets for the match had sold out three days in advance. The Sports Administration Center had promoted the game extensively through the Frontier Provincial Television and online media, broadcasting the event throughout the region. Though it was a youth team contest, it marked a major breakthrough for basketball in the Frontier Province.

Local pride ran deep. As the qualifiers heated up, many Frontier fans began fervently following their own team. No one had anticipated that a group of university players, none of whom had professional experience, could achieve such success. The sharp, aggressive style of Wang Lei’s squad had also attracted fans from across the province and even nationwide.

The game was held once again at the People’s Gymnasium—a venue steeped in the city’s collective memory, now poised for new glory.

During this period, Wang Lei’s main focus remained on relieving his players’ pressure and fine-tuning their mental and physical condition. While his skills might not directly accelerate the players’ technical development, he was adept at managing their mindset. By analyzing training data, he could discern whether the players were diligently following their regimens. Under his watchful eye, these university athletes—largely inexperienced in professional training—were making remarkable strides.

Shan Jin Province Youth Team also took the match seriously. Having won five of their six prior games, they stood just behind the undefeated Frontier Youth Team. The Capital Youth Team, with an identical 5-1 record, was also breathing down their necks. Every match held immense weight; no one could predict whether unexpected upsets might occur in the remaining rounds. Indeed, this qualifying tournament was rife with surprises, making every victory imperative for advancement.

The Shan Jin Province Youth Team harbored concerns about facing the home team. Six consecutive wins were no small feat, underscoring the strength of this university-based squad. Moreover, the Frontier team’s unconventional style left Shan Jin wary of any complacency.

Amidst the roaring cheers of fans in Urumqi, the match commenced. From the outset, Shan Jin adopted a defensive stance, striving to stifle the Frontier Youth Team’s winning streak through tight, relentless defense.

To bolster their perimeter defense, Shan Jin made significant alterations to their usual starting lineup. Their physically imposing center, Xu Bo, was benched initially due to his heavier build and slower speed—disadvantages against the Frontier team’s fast, outside-shooting attack. Instead, Shan Jin fielded a defense-oriented lineup characterized by moderate height but greater agility.

However, Shan Jin’s head coach erred on the side of caution. Though he recognized the Frontier Youth Team’s offensive prowess, he underestimated the nature of their strength—it was not merely about speed.

Right from the tip-off, Turgon launched successive long-range shots, sinking two seemingly impossible three-pointers. This left Shan Jin’s defense in disarray.

Despite employing a man-to-man defense with their point guard closely shadowing Turgon, none anticipated his audacity to fire from beyond the arc, over a meter behind the three-point line, twice in quick succession.

These early three-pointers disrupted Shan Jin’s game plan. Falling behind on the scoreboard, the players instinctively tried to intensify their offense. Despite multiple pre-game warnings from their coach, the young team’s execution faltered.

Defensive gaps appeared, and offensive plays stalled—Shan Jin plunged into chaos from the very start.

Having played six matches prior, Turgon’s potential was increasingly evident. Sensing Shan Jin’s unease, he accelerated the pace, pushing his teammates to quicken transitions and completely upend Shan Jin’s rhythm.

Within five minutes, Shan Jin’s coach had to bring Xu Bo onto the court. Trailing by nearly seven points, they could no longer afford to sacrifice offensive firepower.

Xu Bo’s entrance opened up Shan Jin’s offense, but their defense began to crumble.

On the sidelines, Wang Lei signaled his team to exploit this weakness by launching fast-break counters, targeting Xu Bo’s slower mobility. Cai Aihong was pulled to the perimeter for three-point or mid-range shots, while Ha Wu was substituted out for Sun Dexun to maintain team speed.

By the end of the first quarter, the Frontier Youth Team had already stretched the lead into double digits.

In the second quarter, Shan Jin narrowed the gap to single digits by capitalizing on Frontier’s turnovers. Xu Bo repeatedly scored and drew fouls, converting three-point plays. Wang Lei preemptively substituted Turgon back into the game.

Shan Jin tried to double-team Turgon, but he shifted into off-ball movement, handing the ball to Wang Zhaohui, who took on the role of point forward.

Shan Jin simply could not contain the Frontier team’s varied tactics. By halftime, the deficit widened once more.

Entering the third quarter with a thirteen-point advantage, the Frontier team remained poised. Shan Jin attempted a comeback after halftime adjustments, but Wang Lei’s squad unleashed a scoring spree. Turgon, using screens, unleashed another long-range shot, while Cai Aihong’s mid-range jumpers further extended the lead.

By the end of the third quarter, the gap had ballooned to twenty-one points. Shan Jin’s hopes of a comeback had all but vanished.

It must be said that Shan Jin’s lineup might compete well against other teams, but against Wang Lei’s squad, they were thoroughly outmatched. The Frontier team’s dynamic tactical approach could not be countered by rigid defense alone. Once the Frontier team opened the floodgates, their offensive firepower was overwhelming.

Ultimately, the Frontier Youth Team triumphed decisively, 103 to 81, over the Shan Jin Province Youth Team. With this victory, they secured their place in the final stage two rounds ahead of schedule.