Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Seven: Old Rival (Part Two)

For every player on the Capital Youth Team, the most indelible memory from their last encounter with the Frontier Youth Team was undoubtedly Turgun, who had dealt them the final, crushing blow.

In that previous matchup, Turgun had been unremarkable for the first three quarters before transforming into a sharpshooting force of nature in the fourth, single-handedly dismantling them. At the time, even the home crowd at the Capital Jiusong Arena had partially defected, cheering for Turgun—a rare sight indeed.

Because of this profound impression, the other Frontier players were inevitably overlooked. Thus, as the teams took the court, the Capital players’ eyes were fixed almost exclusively on Turgun.

As the referee tossed the ball high at center court, the semifinal between these old rivals officially began.

During the opening tip, Capital’s center, Tao Zheyong, easily won possession thanks to his height advantage. However, the ball he tipped toward his own half was swiftly intercepted by the alert Turgun. Two Capital defenders immediately swarmed him, but Turgun, with incredible composure, fired a bounce pass directly between the legs of his markers. Cai Aihong, having already sprinted down the court, caught the ball and finished with an easy dunk.

Cai Aihong’s physical strength was indeed lacking, but his speed and agility were elite for his height; the long-distance running training from his childhood had gifted him exceptional mobility.

"Excellent! The number four player from the Frontier Youth Team draws first blood. However, the lion’s share of the credit belongs to their star, Turgun Maimaiti. This seventeen-year-old is arguably the most outstanding point guard in this year’s National Games youth basketball tournament and the core figure behind Frontier’s major breakthrough."

Although CCTV-5 was broadcasting the game, the commentary standards were much lower than those for the adult division. The young intern broadcaster, Wu You, had volunteered to commentate, having already mentioned during the pre-game introduction that he was a fan of Wang Lei.

Frontier’s strong start signaled to the Capital team that their opponents had grown tremendously since their first meeting. Compared to that initial clash, the current Frontier squad appeared remarkably mature.

As the Capital team went on the offensive, the tactics devised by Coach Liu Sicheng remained largely unchanged. The core strategy revolved around Tao Zheyong acting as a post player to draw double-teams, creating opportunities for perimeter support. While they utilized pick-and-rolls, they did not employ them as a primary, systematic weapon like Frontier did.

Tao Zheyong received the ball in the paint. Frontier did not rush to double-team, sticking to man-to-man defense. Hawule held his ground, thwarting Tao’s attempt to force his way to the basket. Tao was stunned; in less than a few months, this short center had improved rapidly. In their last encounter, Tao had been able to toy with Hawule with ease.

Unable to force a shot and seeing Cai Aihong moving in to double-team, Tao remained calm. Keeping his pivot foot planted, he performed a half-turn with his right foot and executed a left-handed hook shot.

This impressive interior move was a skill Tao had been working on tirelessly, and his hard work paid off as the ball traced a high arc before dropping through the net.

"Great shot! That hook from Capital center Tao Zheyong carries the flair of our legendary center Jiang Guochen. Such a high-arcing hook is rarely seen these days. Tao, who just turned eighteen last month, is another young talent like Turgun. The talent scouting in this youth tournament has been truly effective."

As the young broadcaster Wu You continued to laud Tao’s hook shot, Frontier’s offense had already surged back to the paint.

Turgun had barely crossed half-court when he met Capital’s tight press. However, with his expansive vision, he spotted Cai Aihong sprinting to the basket. Hawule moved outward, clearing the lane and opening a passing lane for Cai’s cut. Cai caught Turgun’s timely pass and dunked for two more points.

Capital had not expected Cai Aihong to be the primary aggressor. Coach Liu Sicheng shouted from the sidelines, "Watch the retreat! Don't lose your man!"

The game continued. Capital executed a pick-and-roll, and Tao Zheyong received a pass at the free-throw line, rising up over Hawule to sink the jumper and tie the game.

Both teams were in excellent form from the start. All the remaining teams in the tournament had reached their peak condition; with the championship only one step away, no one was willing to falter now.

As play resumed, Frontier continued with their versatile offensive sets. Turgun faced tight coverage, but he had matured significantly; when his own shooting lanes were clogged, he used his passing and movement to set up his teammates.

After hitting two consecutive shots, Cai Aihong also faced stiffer defense as Tao Zheyong rotated to cover him, with Capital consciously sagging off the less-threatening Hawule.

"The pace of this game is lightning fast. Both sides are exceptional teams. The first five minutes have been highly efficient, and it’s clear that both teams are quite familiar with each other."

Compared to many previous games, this match was exhilarating, with both sides trading blows and highlights—exactly the kind of basketball the fans loved to see.

Five minutes in, the score was 14–15, with Frontier leading by one. Wang Lei made the first adjustment, pulling Hawule for the faster Sun Dexun. Wang Lei hadn't expected Liu Sicheng to engage in a shootout today. Based on the first five minutes, Wang Lei noticed that beyond targeting Turgun and Cai Aihong, Capital’s defense was relatively relaxed against the others—a clear indication of their intent to trade baskets. It seemed that after their last meeting, Liu Sicheng had indeed come up with a new strategy.

Once Sun Dexun entered, Frontier’s offense accelerated, but Liu Sicheng suddenly called a timeout. Wang Lei didn't change his team's approach during the break; regardless of what the opponent did, Frontier’s primary goal was to keep pushing the tempo.

Coming out of the timeout, Capital shifted tactics. Tao Zheyong moved to the high post to facilitate, while the two corner forwards crossed paths. Capital executed a beautiful, cohesive play, with Tao passing to an open corner for a three-pointer.

Compared to their first meeting, the Capital Youth Team had truly undergone a massive transformation.