Chapter 402: Is Spain Betting on the Game?

Spain clearly didn't expect things to change like this.

An obscure rookie suddenly broke their scoring momentum.

However, they weren't nervous, still playing steadily and actively implementing Pau Gasol's tactical ideas. Gasol then made a layup, but immediately Fan Xi assisted Wang Shipeng for a Three-Point Shot.

At halftime, the Zhongguo team still led by 10 points, maintaining a double‑digit advantage.

This is the best ever performance for the Zhongguo team against Spain; the Zhongguo team has never led Spain by 10 points at halftime in an international match before.

This greatly excited the viewers in front of their televisions.

The commentator on TV was also emotionally expressive, announcing that this was a historic breakthrough. He added that even if the national team eventually lost to Spain, history should remember this.

Clearly, the commentator is still rather realistic.

At the same time, it serves to calm domestic fans, a precaution: if they don't win, it's still a historic victory.

However, according to the schedule… if the national team doesn't defeat Spain, their quarterfinal after the first‑round knockout and the B‑group third‑place match will face the B‑group first‑place Dream Team in the semifinals.

This means that if the national team loses tonight, the best they can get is a bronze medal.

But if the national team beats Spain and enters the knockout stage as the A‑group leader, the next two opponents won't be too strong, giving them a good chance to reach the final.

Once they reach the final, the floor is at least a bronze medal.

So the commentator and domestic fans are very eager about this.

That's why the Dream Team cares so much about this match. If they can eliminate the Zhongguo team in the semifinals, why wait for the final?

They don't want Fan Xi to earn any accolades at this year's Olympics; the guy is already in the U. S., has gotten too much NBA glory that isn't his, and letting him shine on the international stage would force everyone to live in his spotlight.

None of the Dream Team's top superstars don't want to take Fan Xi down; even Kai Wen Du Lan Te and Wei Si Bu Lu Ke, close friends of Fan Xi, want to defeat him. However, their defeat is purely competitive, without much negative feeling.

…

10‑point halftime lead.

Honestly, this score exceeds Fan Xi's expectations; he had run through many scenarios before the game, envisioning the national team constantly chasing from behind, and he even prepared many motivational lines for his teammates.

But now, they're completely unnecessary.

The bench atmosphere of the national team is somewhat relaxed.

They are all reveling in the lead, especially Liaocheng Guo Jiang, whose proud smile is beaming.

This draws hearty laughter from teammates. Lao Wang jokes, "Xiao Guo, when you return home, you should have your sponsor write four big characters on your shoes: Anti‑West Vanguard!"

Guo Ailen shamelessly says, "Write this on the left shoe, and 'Basketball Hero' on the right!"

Nearby Xiao Ding is a bit pumped, saying, "No way, in the second half I also need to show them some color."

At this moment Fan Xi also discussed a new lineup with Mai Ke Bu Lang and Li Nan.

Since they're still leading, they might as well be even more reckless.

Mai Ke Bu Lang continues to support Fan Xi, though he doesn't understand why Fan Xi does this. Head coach Li Nan goes along willingly.

So the new lineup the national team fields at the start of the second half is: Han Dejun, Wang Zhiji, Zhu Fangyu, Ding Yuyuhang, Fan Xi.

A tall‑player lineup.

Purely offensive combo.

Before the game, the tough Xiao Ding solemnly tells Guo Ailen, "I'll surpass you soon."

A spirited contest between the two youngsters.

They compete to see who is the national team's best young player.

Of course, privately they also vie for who is the national team's second most handsome player.

Ding!

The whistle blows, and the second‑half match begins.

Spain also made a substitution, pulling Pau Gasol, who sits on the bench like a behind‑the‑scenes matriarch.

He still urges his teammates not to be reckless.

He doesn't want to provoke Fan Xi, nor see any hint of disorder in his team that Fan Xi could seize and run away with.

His caution influences his teammates; after all, he's the team's absolute leader and spiritual symbol.

His opinion is even more important than the head coach's.

Ma Ke Jia Suo Er easily shakes off Han Dejun.

Although Han Dejun often duelled with Mili Xiqi recently, making him familiar with many European center moves, he still can't defend.

Ma Ke Jia Suo Er, after scoring, proudly flexes his muscles.

But in the next play, Xiao Dingding breaks through Na Wa Luo's defense, like a fierce eagle soaring into the paint, and when Ma Ke Jia Suo Er comes to help, he quickly passes the ball to Han Dejun.

Recent training has evolved Xiao Ding considerably; he has a chance to play in the NBA… this view is unanimously endorsed by Mai Ke Bu Lang, Bilupusi, Lun Na De, Ba Le Te and others.

Han Dejun grabs the ball, twists his body, leans on Ma Ke Jia Suo Er, and awkwardly puts the ball in.

His movement looks clumsy and slow, even a bit like an amateur, yet it goes in.

Such a score easily offends the opponent's pride.

Mili Xiqi's mindset was shattered by Han Dejun back then.

Ma Ke Jia Suo Er's NBA standing is higher than Mili Xiqi's, making it hard for him not to be angry.

The feeling is like a table‑tennis champion being punched by a street hustler; it's hard not to strike back.

Ma Ke Jia Suo Er returns to the half‑court and actively demands the ball; Ka Er De Long doesn't dare to be vague. With Pau Gasol off the floor, Ma Ke Jia Suo Er is Spain's biggest star.

The ball reaches Ma, who backs his body for a one‑on‑one, spins… Ma Ke Jia Suo Er's move is plain; he lacks his brother's agility.

Han Dejun has no other strengths; he's just fat and can hold.

His block makes Ma uncomfortable; Ma turns, about to go up for a layup… Boom!

Fan Xi rushes over and slaps the ball straight out of his hands.

Then Fan Xi initiates a fast break, dashing forward with the ball; Ding Yuyuhang speeds in from the side, Fan Xi drives into the free‑throw line, draws defense, and sideways feeds the ball to the cutting Xiao Ding.

Brave Ding Ding at that moment leapt skyward, grabbed the basketball and slammed it hard toward the hoop… Boom!

He completed a two‑hand dunk.

The arena was filled with excitement.

The Chinese fans in front of their TVs were even more ecstatic.

They didn't expect that besides Fan Xi, there was also a Chinese guard who could execute a spectacular wind‑mill dunk on the Olympic stage.

"No wonder Fan Xi originally fought against all opposition to pick the youngsters Guo Ailun and Ding Yuyuhang; they are not pond‑frogs. Fan Xi's draft eye really isn't a joke. In the NBA he selected Leonard and Butler, a peerless pair; in the national team he has also cultivated two promising youngsters."

The CCTV commentator said excitedly.

At this point the score gap widened to 12 points.

Pau Gasol, anxious, quickly stood up; on the sideline he loudly urged Ka Er De Long to keep the tempo, and in Spanish warned Ma Ke Jia Suo Er: "Don't get carried away."

With that instruction, the ball went to Na Wa Luo, who surged at Ding Ding. Ding Ding grew more and more fired up, forcibly matching Na Wa Luo's pace… Ding Ding's physical condition is good; his defensive ability, after being honed by Butler and Leonard, is already quite sharp.

Na Wa Luo isn't as tall as Ding Ding; he finally chose a sudden‑stop step‑back jump shot, but Ding Ding blocked his hands right over his head.

Bang!

The ball hit the rim.

The paint crowded together, and Fan Xi surged in to grab the rebound.

There's nothing they can do; Han De Jun and Lao Wang are not good at rebounding.

So Fan Xi specifically told them just to hold good positions.

Fan Xi dribbled forward, reached beyond the three‑point line, saw Zhu Fangyu coming out from the baseline, and surged to the opposite side, drawing a double‑team before passing the ball over; Zhu Fangyu shot… Swish!

It went in.

The gap widened to 15 points.

Beep!

Spain called a timeout.

This outcome surprised not only Fan Xi but also the Dream Team; they felt the Chinese team stepped on Spain's weak spots at every turn, controlling them tightly.

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si couldn't help but remark, "Jieke Fan truly has an extraordinary knack for arranging player line‑ups."

The comment silenced the Dream Team collectively.

Meanwhile, domestic fans were thrilled beyond words.

They believed the game had over a fifty‑percent chance of winning.

On his way back to the bench, Fan Xi felt a bit dizzy.

He truly didn't expect the night to be so easy, that Spain had little resistance.

This doesn't match the two sides' strengths.

Yet his teammates were very excited.

Back on the bench, Ding Ding boasted proudly, "Brother Lao Wang, do you think we could write 'Anti‑West Forward' on my shoes?"

Lao Wang chuckled, "Then you'd at least have to make a three‑pointer."

"Add a steal," Yao Ge teased the younger brother.

The Chinese team side was harmonious and joyful.

The Spain side, however, was very irritable.

"We can't keep playing so steadily; we need to raise the tempo, we'll definitely beat them," Mark Gasol shouted excitedly at his brother.

Gasol looked up, checked the clock, and said, "There's still plenty of time; don't attack them head‑on, remember, don't go head‑on with Jieke Fan! I'll go in later, we'll play steady!"

Beep!

The whistle blew.

The game continued.

The younger brother still wasn't as good as the older; although many backed the younger, the older's word settled the matter.

Pau Gasol quickly deceived Han De Jun into a fast break, drove to the basket for a 2+1, stabilizing the team's morale.

The national team made no lineup changes.

They kept playing like that.

It was still Fan Xi breaking through, then passing to Lao Wang, who cut into the paint, used a Xikema step to fake out Yi Ba Ka, and scored on the layup.

The two sides entered a back‑and‑forth exchange.

But one must admit, Spain's strength was a bit greater.

Under Pau Gasol's lead, they boiled the frog slowly, and the gap gradually narrowed.

With one minute left in the third quarter, they were only down six points, gradually clawing the score back while retaining possession.

The national team, during this stretch, substituted Han De Jun for Yi Jianlian, and swapped Zhu Fangyu for Ding Jin Hui… but the effect was minimal.

Fan Xi had originally planned to call a timeout in the previous possession; he intended to bring in Wang Shipeng, letting him and Zhu Fangyu, the two three‑point shooters, spread the floor, while he led a charge.

He now felt quite stirred, wanting to test whether he could whip up a wind.

In a sense, although Fan Xi's shooting is still average, his wind‑whipping skill is unrivaled, because he naturally possesses a strong wind attribute, and with General Arenas's wind attribute added, it's like stacking two buffs.

But what Fan Xi didn't expect was…

Earlier, Ding Yuyuhang, who had missed two consecutive shots, suddenly charged at Fernandez like a raging bull; Fernandez is a strong shooting guard, far better than Na Wa Luo.

However, Fernandez made a basic mistake: while trying to fake out Ding Ding, he exposed the ball too early… probably because he severely underestimated the Chinese guards' level.

Ding Ding seized the moment, his hand snapping forward at lightning speed… Crack!

The ball was knocked down.

He immediately surged forward and snatched the ball.

He sprinted toward the frontcourt with the ball, fired up, even shouting, "Leonard has tormented me for so long, and you think a little fake‑out can get past me?"

He rushed to the frontcourt beyond the three‑point line, didn't wait for the defense to catch up, leapt and shot… Swoosh!

At this moment, the frontcourt was empty.

CCTV commentator shouted, "Xiao Ding! This shot is unreasonable…"

Before the words finished, Swoosh!

"But it went in! Great Xiao Ding, great Xiao Ding, he inherited Zhongguo's guard's fine tradition, daring and fighting! This steal and three‑pointer pulled the national team out of danger, he earned merit! He earned merit!"

The point gap widened to 9 points.

Fan Xi ran over and collided his chest with Xiao Ding as they jumped.

Xiao Ding was extremely excited.

"I've secured the anti‑west spear, even Jesus can't stop me!" he shouted loudly to his bench‑seat teammates.

His teammates clapped for him while laughing.

"Young people still have vigor," Da Yao sighed.

Before the Olympics started, he had worried about a talent gap; now he felt this wave of youngsters was a bit too over‑excited.

One was fiercer than the next.

Fan Xi still teaches students.

Yao Ming took a deep breath; he believed the national team had a bright future.

Bang!

At that moment, frontcourt Fernandez missed a shot, and Xiao Ding defended it.

Yi Jianlian grabbed the rebound, passed to Fan Xi, who suppressed the tempo and moved forward.

When only 5 seconds remained, he launched a drive, broke into the free‑throw line, stopped abruptly under Deron Williams's defense, faced a triple‑team from the Spanish team, and executed a backward jump shot… taking the difficulty to the extreme.

But… Swoosh!

At the moment the third‑quarter buzzer sounded, the basketball pierced the net.

Fan Xi shot rarely tonight, but this basket fully proved his worth.

The point gap returned to 11 points.

The third quarter ended.

This result exceeded everyone's expectations.

Now the Dream Team side is also uncertain…

Chris Paul even muttered softly, "Did the Spanish bet on the game?"

"Or do they think they can eliminate us in the semifinals?"

…