Gan Guoyang's scores and blocks made Green Vest's afro-headed Black player feel humiliated.
At the same time, he also felt a strong pressure emanating from Guoyang.
This was a stark contrast to his usual stereotype of Chinese people.
The youth with the cold face and tall stature stood on the court firm as a rock, inspiring fear in others.
This was not only due to Guoyang's height and his inexplicable natural talent for basketball but also thanks to the resilience he had built up in the orphanage.
He had spent his childhood and youth amidst cold looks, discrimination, and pity, but he had not become timid or weak; instead, he was ready to glare defiantly at all authority and injustice.
Therefore, he was deeply attracted to basketball, a sport full of confrontation. Although he had never competed on the court, his spirit had been tested there countless times.
In the 80s, America's contemptuous attitude toward Chinese-Americans was insignificant in Guoyang's eyes.
His confidence and boldness soon overshadowed the court.
A basketball court is not just a competition of skill and strategy but also a psychological battle.
Once one side is at a psychological disadvantage, even if they have better skills and tactics, they might not be able to perform.
The Ripper Team was a mid-level team at Hunter's Point, with their three players being from Philip and Salabarton high schools' B team.
Although they weren't starters, just substitutes, their skills were still way above the average person's.
In Hunters Gym, they often played impressive games, beating some tough opponents, and had considerable strength.
But today, facing Guoyang's trio, they quickly found themselves at a disadvantage on the court.
Guoyang's two-meter height caused a massive shadow over their inside defense.
His blocking and defense induced panic; every layup, every shot attempted in the face of such a shot blocker required divided attention to cope.
This led to hesitancy, technical distortion, and even frustration and psychological collapse.
Besides the volleyball-like block at the start that established his dominance, Guoyang's defense and blocks became smarter and trickier.
He didn't jump lightly and wouldn't send the ball far away; he watched you like a viper, lightly touching the ball to alter its trajectory at the precise moment he needed to block.
In this way, he could directly seize the ball, turning the offensive chance back to his team.
On offense, he had an accurate mid-range jump shot, firing unexpectedly after catching the ball.
He had already scored four field goals from outside and assisted Chen Xing twice.
The Ripper Team had to focus their offense on the perimeter, using jump shots to resolve the issue.
Gan Guohui became the defensive weak link on the court; 3:7 down by four, the Ripper Team changed tactics and began targeting the vulnerability that was Guohui.
Shorts and Green Vest executed a pick-and-roll, with Green Vest using his body to block Guoyang from helping defend Shorts, who pulled up for a jump shot at the free-throw line and scored.
It was Guoyang's team's turn to attack, and the Ripper Team completely abandoned Guohui's defense, instead double-teaming Guoyang while Jason intensely pressured Chen Xing one-on-one at the perimeter.
Chen Xing made a turnover, and the ball went to the Ripper Team.
Another skilled perimeter play.
With a three-on-three half-court game, there was a huge amount of space on the court.
Jason moved the ball, keeping it as far from Guoyang as possible.
Shorts caught the ball at the zero-degree angle and fired a mid-range jumper, scoring again.
5:7, the Ripper Team clawed back.
The fear of being continuously blocked by Guoyang was slowly fading.
They knew if they couldn't provoke him, they could at least avoid him.
Chen Xing used his ability to break through to the basket but his layup was swatted away by Green Vest with a big block.
Guoyang followed up, pushing through the crowd, grabbed the rebound, and scored on a putback.
"Shit, why is this guy so strong?"
Jason complained as he had just been pushed aside by Guoyang without any chance to resist.
But looking at his physique, Guoyang didn't seem very burly, only that his muscles were incredibly compact, as if he had muscles growing in his bones too.
5:8, with ten points, Guoyang's team was two points away from victory.
The Ripper Team called for a timeout, taking a moment to drink water and regroup.
Jason, Green Vest, and Shorts huddled together to discuss their strategy.
"That tall guy's defense is too scary, which high school is he from?"
"I've never heard of him in San Francisco, but that fat guy is a vulnerability."
"We should stick to our previous strategy and keep an eye on the rebound."
"Try to hit that kid once, we need some morale, some morale!"
Jason instructed Green Vest to take a shot at Guoyang. If they kept avoiding the opponent's defensive gatekeeper, even a win wouldn't be very honorable.
Green Vest nodded and once again called for the ball in the low post. This time he didn't drive hard with the ball but used his footwork to pivot towards the basket. He backed against Guoyang, using experience and small movements; with a subtle timing difference, he evaded Guoyang's block and scored with a bank shot under the basket.
It was Green Vest's first basket of the night, and he showed no pride after scoring, just a slight sigh of relief.
The oppressive feeling from Guoyang's defense right behind him raised his hackles, forcing him to draw upon all his experience and skill, making him recall those details learned from school team practices just to make an ordinary bank shot under the basket.
On the other hand, Guoyang grabbed the ball with one hand. He wasn't discouraged by the failed defense; rather, he was filled with a strong sense of excitement.
Because, with that shot, he had experienced things he could never feel outside the basketball court or in games.
The details in confrontation, subtle shifts in center of gravity and rhythm, the control over 0.1-second timing differences, and various small movements of hands, shoulders, and back.
One would never understand these things without facing above-average competition, let alone learn them.
In his previous understanding, it seemed that shooting, dunking, dribbling, breaking through, three-pointers, crossovers, and catch-shoots were all there was to technique.
No, that's not it. Details are everything—they are the key that really differentiates the levels between players.
"Let's call a timeout as well!"
Chen Xing used their only timeout of the game.
Guoyang was rubbing the ball in his hands so fiercely that it was making a rattling sound. Chen Xing thought Guoyang was frustrated because of the defensive failure.
He comforted him, "It's okay Guoyang, you've been defending well. Fatty Hui, you're the weak spot right now, you haven't scored a single point."
Gan Guohui hadn't made a basket during the game and had repeatedly been targeted as the weak point in defense. Ripper had made him their primary focus to tear through.
He looked crestfallen, pursing his lips, wanting to retort but not knowing what to say. Because Chen Xing was right.
Gan Guoyang, however, patted his brother on the back and said, "Don't worry, Guohui. Since they are underestimating you, you need to grab the opportunity and make them pay."
However, Guohui's eyes showed confusion. Seize the opportunity, but where was the opportunity?
His abilities were indeed quite poor; even worse than Chen Xing's—who had greatly improved after attending a summer camp.
Not to mention confronting any of the three school team members from Ripper, he couldn't handle any of them, and naturally felt demoralized.
When the timeout ended and they returned to the court, Guoyang suddenly called for the ball on the left side. Chen Xing immediately passed it to him.
Shorts came up top for a double team on Guoyang, but with quick speed, Guoyang dribbled and spun to cut to the baseline, avoiding the double team.
This move was almost identical to the footsteps used by Green Vest just before; his right foot wedged inside early, and he used his thigh to press against the opponent's leg during the spin, getting to the basket and using his back to hold off the defender. As the defender lost his balance for a moment, he jumped and scored with an easy bank shot.
Seeing a move so similar to his own, Green Vest took it as Guoyang taunting him, without realizing that this was Guoyang mimicking what he just learned.
With blood pumping, Green Vest then fiercely grabbed an offensive rebound, trying to make a strong shot under the basket, but it was easily blocked by the well-prepared Guoyang.
Having regained possession, Guoyang tossed the ball to Chen Xing, and once again, he called for the ball in the same low-post position. Green Vest clearly lacked experience in low-post defense; he didn't even try to fight for position.
The ball was effortlessly passed to Guoyang, and with another basket, they would win the game.
Shorts quickly came up for a double team, faster than before.
But this time, Guoyang didn't go for a dribble spin; instead, he passed the ball to the open Guohui.
"Shoot!"
Guohui caught the ball and hesitated for just a moment.
"You need to seize the opportunity and make them pay."
So, the opportunity was here.
He raised his hand, aimed at the white square on the backboard, and launched a gentle shot.
The ball traced a not-so-beautiful arc, hit the backboard, and bounced perfectly into the basket.
Gan Guohui made his only basket of the game.
"Did we win?"
"We won!"