Chapter 856: A Narrow Two Game Win

Chapter 856: Chapter 856: A Narrow Two Game Win

Chapter 856: A Narrow Two Game Win

The moment the final buzzer sounded, the Chinese players rushed toward one another and embraced.

Spain’s players looked disappointed, but not devastated.

Losing was difficult to accept, especially after fighting for the entire game, but this was still only the opening match of the group stage.

There were plenty of games left.

As long as Spain returned to its normal level, advancing from the group would not be a serious problem.

Chen Yan had delivered a historic performance.

21 of 32 from the field.

5 of 8 from beyond the arc.

10 of 10 from the free throw line.

57 points.

10 assists.

8 rebounds.

Yi Jianlian contributed 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Yao Ming finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

For Spain, Pau Gasol recorded a huge double double with 20 points and 16 rebounds.

Rudy Fernández scored 16.

Juan Carlos Navarro added 14.

Marc Gasol finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

But there was no question who had owned the night.

Chen Yan.

The moment the game ended, almost every camera inside the arena turned toward him.

Reporters rushed forward, competing for the first interview.

"Chen, you now hold the Olympic single game scoring record. How does that feel?"

"What does defeating Spain mean for China?"

"Chen, what is China’s goal for this tournament?"

Chen looked around at the crowd of reporters.

Then he spotted someone from CCTV.

He pointed toward him.

"You first."

Chen wanted the Chinese media to get the first interview.

The reporter quickly moved forward.

"Chen Yan, congratulations. You led China to victory in the opening game. Millions of fans back home stayed up late watching and cheering for you. What would you like to say to them?"

Chen looked directly into the camera.

"Thank you."

He smiled.

"Thank you to everyone supporting us."

"Your support gives me energy when I am on the court. Even from this far away, I can feel it."

Chen nodded slightly.

"Please keep supporting me and keep supporting the Chinese men’s basketball team."

"We will do everything we can not to disappoint you."

The reporter continued.

"Tonight, China defeated Spain, the reigning European champions, and you also set a new Olympic single game scoring record. This must be an extremely special night for you."

"More than special."

Chen laughed.

"It feels great."

"The team won, and I played one of my best games. There is not much more you can ask for."

He glanced toward his teammates.

"I also want to thank the coaching staff and everyone on the team."

"They trusted me completely."

"They kept giving me the ball and letting me make decisions."

The reporter saved the biggest question for last.

"One final question. It is probably what everyone back home wants to know."

Chen waited.

"Is China’s goal at these Olympics the gold medal?"

Chen smiled.

"We have always been working toward that."

It was a confident answer.

But not an absolute one.

Chen understood the difference.

If he publicly guaranteed a gold medal and China eventually fell short, those words would follow him for years.

After showering and changing, Chen attended the official post game press conference.

Most of the foreign reporters asked similar questions.

How did it feel to break the scoring record?

What did beating Spain mean?

How far did Chen believe China could go?

Chen answered smoothly.

By now, dealing with the media had become second nature.

The following day, Chen dominated sports headlines.

Even some Olympic gold medalists received less attention.

After the press conference, Chen tried to leave the arena.

That turned into another challenge.

Fans surrounded him outside for nearly 30 minutes.

And it was not only Chinese fans.

Foreign supporters were just as enthusiastic.

Especially the women.

Some screamed.

Some reached toward him.

Some made exaggerated gestures.

Then one particularly enthusiastic female fan threw her bra directly at Chen.

Slap!

It landed across his face.

Reporters captured the exact moment.

By the next morning, the photo was everywhere.

"Chen Yan attacked by mysterious bra."

"Estimated size, F cup."

"Absolutely terrifying."

"Wait, Chen has incredible reaction speed. How did he fail to dodge that?"

"Maybe he was exhausted after scoring 57."

"You people are too innocent. With Chen’s reflexes, you really think he could not have moved?"

"Hahaha, so you’re saying he deliberately let it hit him?"

"Chen Yan is not that kind of person!"

Taylor Swift could not stop laughing when she saw the comments.

The morning after the game, Chen visited the hotel where Taylor was staying.

She greeted him with a teasing smile.

"Baby, did you keep the bra as a souvenir?"

Chen’s eyebrow twitched.

"Are you insane?"

Taylor immediately burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

She leaned back.

"You are really popular here too."

Then she looked at him curiously.

"Have you officially become an international superstar?"

Chen shrugged.

"You are the same."

"Every time you go outside, someone asks for an autograph."

The 2 continued teasing each other.

After being together for so long, that kind of banter had become completely normal.

...

Defeating Spain sent China’s confidence soaring.

Sometimes, however, too much confidence could become dangerous.

On July 31, China faced Russia.

And nearly paid for taking the opponent too lightly.

From the opening tip, China looked completely out of rhythm.

The outside shooting was especially ugly.

0 of 5 from beyond the arc in the 1st quarter.

By the end of the period, Russia led 24 to 15.

Chinese fans watching from home remained surprisingly calm.

After all, this was Russia.

A team that had needed to qualify for the Olympics through the qualifying tournament.

China had just beaten Spain.

Why should Russia be frightening?

That confidence underestimated how well Russia played as a team.

European basketball had plenty of depth, and this Russian roster was far from weak.

Their centerpiece was Andrei Kirilenko.

AK47.

Early in the 2nd quarter, Russian captain Sergey Monya found himself facing Yao Ming’s closeout.

He rose anyway.

3 pointer.

Swish!

15 to 27.

The deficit had reached double digits.

China needed a response.

Chen provided one immediately.

He came back down and hit a trailing 3 pointer.

But Russia answered at the other end.

On the next possession, Yi Jianlian attacked the rim and prepared to dunk.

Kirilenko came flying from behind.

Smack!

Huge block.

Russia recovered the ball.

Transition.

Timofey Mozgov came charging down the middle.

Boom!

Powerful dunk.

China called timeout.

Russia had taken control of both the score and the momentum.

China’s poor shooting seemed contagious.

In the 1st quarter, the problem had mostly been the perimeter.

By the 2nd, nobody could find a rhythm.

At halftime, China had scored only 27 points.

Embarrassing by the standards this team had set for itself.

Fortunately, Russia was not exactly producing beautiful offense either.

They led 44 to 27.

During halftime, Chen finally made a decision.

He used a status enhancement card.

Originally, he had wanted to save it.

Now he realized that some things were not worth saving if the game in front of you was slipping away.

Once the enhancement took effect, Chen’s outside shooting touch returned almost immediately.

Deep 3.

Swish!

Next possession.

Another ultra deep 3.

Swish!

Russia had no choice but to expand its defense.

That created space inside.

Yao and Yi immediately took advantage.

Post up.

Drive.

Contact.

Free throws.

China’s perimeter shooting slowly began to recover as well.

Just as bad shooting could spread through a team, confidence could too.

With 4 minutes and 9 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, Wang Shipeng caught the ball near the top.

3 pointer.

Swish!

At 2 minutes and 57 seconds, Zhu Fangyu moved into space, caught the pass, and rose immediately.

Swish!

Then came the final possession of the quarter.

Chen controlled the ball.

Clock winding down.

Pullup 3.

Buzzer.

Swish!

51 to 57.

China had erupted for 24 points in the 3rd quarter.

Almost as many as they had scored in the entire 1st half.

At the broadcast table, Charles Barkley finally relaxed.

"There we go. That looks like the team we saw against Spain."

Kenny Smith nodded.

"Russia had them uncomfortable for a long time, but once Chen started making those deep shots, the entire floor opened up."

The first half of the 4th quarter remained extremely tight.

Russia had no intention of surrendering the game.

The turning point finally came with 6 minutes and 3 seconds remaining.

Over the next 1 and a half minutes, China exploded.

Defense.

Transition.

Outside shooting.

Inside pressure.

An 11 to 1 run.

Just like that, the game turned.

Russia never recovered.

It had been much closer than anyone expected.

China had flirted with danger.

But in the end, they survived.

2 group stage games.

2 victories.

The Chinese men’s basketball team had opened the London Olympics with 2 straight wins.

Not without a scare.

But wins all the same.

....

https://discord.gg/KvMN2CFsMR

[If you don’t want to wait for the next update, read 50+ Chapters ahead on P@treon.]

[[email protected]/FanficLord03].