Chapter 4 I Am the Core!
Li Feng's three-pointers were seemingly unstoppable!
The fact that he could hit shots from such terrifying distances stunned the Spanish coaching staff.
They had guided several good outside shooters in the Chinese men's basketball team.
But after all their calculations, the Spanish head coach never expected a player who had never appeared in a major international competition to make such an unbelievable shot!
Li Feng's shooting touch was incredibly hot, and if they couldn't find a way to contain him, the Spanish team might truly be in trouble.
The Spanish head coach, the silver-haired Aitor Reyes, pinched his aquiline nose.
With few timeouts remaining, he could only silently pray that Li Feng would miss his shots or that some other turn of events would occur.
Meanwhile, the Chinese fans at the Wukesong arena cheered louder and louder.
After all, with the current momentum, a four-point deficit was nothing.
The Spanish team organized their offense.
Point guard Ricky Rubio, looking at the surging red sea of fans, felt a wave of dizziness.
Even for a seasoned veteran, such a scene could induce nervousness.
Let alone for him, an 18-year-old prodigy.
Li Feng stood in front of him, and Rubio felt unprecedented pressure.
Fortunately, shooting guard Navarro stepped up to receive the pass; otherwise, Rubio truly worried Li Feng would aggressively press him and steal the ball.
Under Li Feng's leadership, the Chinese men's basketball team's defense was very aggressive.
Five seconds... four seconds... three seconds...
The 24-second shot clock was running out.
Just as the fans at Wukesong thought the Chinese men's basketball team was about to complete an excellent defensive play.
No one noticed that a crisis was brewing in the paint.
Spanish center Pau Gasol, using his experience, accelerated in the opposite direction and cut into the basket!
No one had anticipated that, at the last moment, Gasol would go against the grain and receive the ball under the basket.
This was a very dangerous position.
If Pau Gasol were to get a dunk now, all the momentum built up would be lost.
"Ah!!!"
Before Pau Gasol could even raise his arm holding the basketball, two massive hands, like iron hammers, slammed down heavily on his arm.
Li Feng and Yao Ming almost simultaneously lunged, striking Gasol's arm.
The objective was simple: at this point, even sending him to the free-throw line was better than giving him an easy dunk!
At this moment, Li Feng noticed a very dangerous detail.
Yao Ming already had four fouls.
If this foul was called on Yao Ming,
According to Olympic rules, Da Yao would be disqualified with five fouls!
At this crucial juncture, Da Yao's presence was too vital!
Li Feng immediately raised his right arm to signal the referee, indicating that the foul should be called on him.
The referee hesitated for a moment but ignored him, instead turning towards the scorer's table.
Younes also walked near the scorer's table, observing the referee's actions.
Spanish head coach Aitor Reyes also hurried in that direction.
He used his hands and feet, describing the situation to the referee and frequently pointing at Yao Ming.
It looked as if he had been an eyewitness to the event.
The fervent atmosphere at Wukesong completely subsided.
Everyone was focused on the referee's final decision!
After about thirty seconds.
The referee nodded and made his final decision.
"Number 13, Yao Ming, a blocking foul!"
"Pau Gasol, two free throws!"
"Yao Ming, fouled out!"
Upon hearing this news, Da Yao could only shake his head helplessly.
At this moment, the five players on the Spanish court wore expressions of relief.
Spanish head coach Aitor Reyes left the court with a satisfied look.
The large screen above the court replayed the foul in the paint.
Li Feng and Yao Ming's arms had struck almost simultaneously, but Yao Ming had made contact with Gasol a fraction of a second earlier than Li Feng.
The referee's call was not questionable.
With things as they were, despite his regret, Yao Ming had to accept the outcome.
"It's up to you, brother!"
Yao Ming patted Li Feng's shoulder, his eyes filled with trust, and then quietly walked off the court.
Li Feng could feel the pressure in Yao Ming's heart.
After playing the entire game, being fouled out at the most critical moment would be difficult for anyone to accept.
Fortunately, Pau Gasol only made one of his two free throws.
Yao Ming, on the bench, wore a complex expression.
Regardless, his departure had some meaning.
Younes substituted Wang Zhizhi for Yao Ming on the court.
The Spanish players immediately wore fierce expressions.
In their eyes, with Yao Ming out of the game, the Chinese men's basketball team's inside presence was no longer a significant threat.
As for outside players like Li Feng, without the interior support, it wouldn't be easy to get open shooting opportunities.
Li Feng's expression was remarkably calm. The cameras focused on him, yet the audience could barely sense any fluctuation in his emotions.
Just now!
A cold, sharp voice.
Once again echoed from the depths of Li Feng's mind.
"Ding!"
[Main Quest Triggered: Light of China!]
[Quest Content: The true core should lead the team to victory in the final stages!]
[Quest Reward: One Advanced Draw Chest!]
What the heck is this?
Li Feng was slightly stunned.
Can I get quests during a game?
This feels a bit like playing 2K!
Lead the team to victory and get a treasure chest?
And it's an advanced treasure chest at that!
If you put it like that, I'm wide awake!
The camera panned back to Li Feng.
His eyes seemed to contain formidable fighting spirit.
In the stands.
"Sigh! Da Yao fouled out! This is going to be tough now!"
"Da Yao is our backbone. The Spanish team's momentum should pick up now!"
"The advantage of the Gasol brothers in the paint is too great; our rebounding is a huge problem!"
"If we lose the game like this in the end, it will be truly unacceptable!"
Li Feng completely ignored these external factors.
He only knew that to complete the system's task, he needed to make up a five-point deficit!
The referee's whistle blew!
The game resumed.
Wang Zhizhi stood at the baseline and passed the ball to Li Feng.
After receiving the ball, Li Feng's energy gauge instantly maxed out.
He charged towards the frontcourt like lightning.
After all, his stamina was the best among all players on the court.
Seeing this soaring fighting spirit, the fans in the stands instantly reignited their hope.
After all, the players on the court had not given up!
Li Feng passed the ball to Sun Dasheng and immediately began to cut and weave, looking for an opportunity to receive a pass and shoot.
According to the tactic Younes had just outlined.
Li Feng's job was to find open three-point opportunities!