Chapter 141: The First Encounter

The first meeting between Gao Ming and Wang Lei was remarkably harmonious, or at least it appeared so on the surface.

At the pre-finals press conference, Gao Ming finally met the Wang Lei who had intrigued him so much. It is quite rare in the history of Republican basketball for two coaches of such similar youth to appear together at a championship press conference.

Wang Lei truly surprised Gao Ming. He had never imagined that a coach with such an open-minded tactical philosophy could emerge domestically. This was evident in the versatile tactical style of the Frontier Youth Team and their performance against previous opponents. Compared to domestic teams, the Frontier Youth Team and the North American Youth Team played a completely different brand of basketball.

Although Gao Ming’s approach was purely data-driven—with every tactical arrangement and player rotation dictated by statistics—he had also meticulously studied the tactical philosophies of major North American master coaches. Consequently, while his team appeared extremely rational, it actually possessed a unique style of its own. What truly surprised Gao Ming, however, was Wang Lei’s ability to cultivate a team. He could clearly see that the Frontier Youth Team was a squad with high execution, composed of players who were intelligent and understood their roles. This was a rare quality; in Gao Ming’s own team, as their results improved, some players had already begun to grow dissatisfied with their playing time and shot volume, with cliques forming in the locker room as individuals sought better statistics and more opportunities. After all, this tournament was a significant showcase for everyone, and becoming a true professional player was the ultimate goal for every member of the team.

"Coach Gao, it is a pleasure to face your team."

"Coach Wang, the feeling is mutual. I have been looking forward to this matchup, and I hope it will be a spectacular game."

The handshake between the two exceptionally young coaches excited the reporters in the room. Even if the moment didn't make the front page tomorrow, it was certain to be a significant story. The youth of these two coaches, combined with their non-professional rosters, symbolized the booming development of youth basketball in the Republic. Furthermore, Gao Ming’s background and his team’s overseas origins underscored the Republic's care and attention toward the Chinese diaspora.

Neither coach revealed much at the press conference. Both teams possessed fluid styles—Gao Ming’s team at least had a traceable logic, whereas Wang Lei’s team seemed to have no discernible pattern other than their relentless offense. Even under the persistent questioning of the journalists, the two young coaches remained tight-lipped.

Returning to the locker room, Wang Lei found his players beginning their final warm-ups. The final would officially tip off in an hour.

For Wang Lei, Gao Ming was undoubtedly a formidable opponent. He had studied Gao Ming’s career in detail. This coach, who had not come from a professional playing background, had enjoyed a brilliant start to his career, leading an obscure university team to the final sixteen of the North American collegiate league. That alone was proof of Gao Ming’s prowess. Having personally trained in the NBA, Wang Lei understood the gap between the basketball level of the Republic and the world’s elite; the domestic league level didn't even match the non-professional collegiate leagues abroad. Thus, Gao Ming was a truly daunting adversary.

Wang Lei had also studied all of the North American Youth Team’s previous matches. Although they were not professional players, their physical fitness and skills were essentially on par with domestic professionals. Many of them played for major North American university teams, having honed their craft through years of elementary and middle school leagues. It was fair to say that in terms of individual ability, the Frontier Youth Team was at a significant disadvantage compared to the North American Youth Team.

However, Wang Lei and his squad were not without confidence heading into the final. They had encountered strong opponents before and overcome them one by one. By reaching this stage, the Frontier Youth Team had forged a unique spirit of their own.

The opponent was indeed excellent, but not invincible. While Gao Ming’s team appeared versatile with frequent rotations and an offense-first mindset, Wang Lei had discovered subtle traces through game footage and research into Gao Ming’s career.

For instance, although Gao Ming’s team frequently employed small-ball lineups, their offense relied primarily on dribble penetration rather than high-post pick-and-rolls, which were not a staple of their system. In this era, the pick-and-roll had not been as thoroughly explored or utilized as it would be in other timelines; it was treated merely as an auxiliary tactic. In contrast, over eighty percent of the Frontier Youth Team’s offense was generated through repetitive pick-and-roll screens.

Another point was that in Gao Ming’s team, players with superior statistics and efficiency always received preference. While this seemed reasonable, it was actually Gao Ming’s greatest flaw. Having fought on the basketball court himself, Wang Lei understood that a player’s contribution could not always be captured by statistics alone. For example, during the preliminary round against the Capital Youth Team, a player named Turgun had only scored four points through the first three quarters, making only one of his first ten shots. In Gao Ming’s system, Turgun likely would have been benched, but Wang Lei had the confidence to let him take the eleventh, twelfth, and subsequent shots. Ultimately, relying on Turgun’s game-winner, the Frontier Youth Team secured the victory.

Armed with this conviction, Wang Lei and his players felt only anticipation for the final. They were eager for the game to start and hungry to defeat a strong enemy to claim the championship.

"Keep running. That is our only principle for this game. The opponent is equally athletic and also an offense-first team. If we want to win, we must be faster and more aggressive than them. Play to our strengths, don't try to beat them at their own game, and shoot with confidence from beyond the arc. Hawul, you need to be diligent on the boards. Their interior is also undersized, and this is a great opportunity for you to prove yourself."

After the warm-up, Wang Lei gave his final briefing in the locker room. The North American Youth Team lacked a true center, which Wang Lei viewed as an opening. He didn't intend for Hawul or Cai Aihong to attack the interior specifically, but rather hoped the team would secure more rebounds. Between two teams known for offense and speed, the one that controlled the boards would seize the initiative.