According to Li Yaguang’s arrangement, he believes in catching the opponent off guard by using Zheng Hai Xia as bait and leveraging the roles of other players.
He hopes the bench players can emerge as surprise heroes; this idea can’t be considered wrong, as Li Yaguang’s unexpected strategy during the semifinals was effective.
However, Gan Guoyang, with his richer experience in finals, knows that finals are different from semifinals and quarterfinals.
When it comes to the finals, there is no going back; you’re at the finish line, and the right mentality should be to push forward relentlessly, succeed or die trying.
Determination and willpower play a bigger role in finals than any other match, and the more critical the moment, the more likely surprise tactics will fail.
On the way back to the stands from the women’s basketball locker room, Jiang Xingquan said to Gan Guoyang: "Lao Gan, the women’s team has their own strategy. If you have Zheng Hai Xia play more, won’t it disrupt their lineup?"
Gan Guoyang replied: "I know a bit of the women’s team strategy, they also want surprise heroes. But in my experience, taking risks in major matches tends to backfire. In crucial battles, at the end, it’s about fighting hard, attacking the opponent’s weak points with your strongest abilities, stabbing each other mercilessly; whoever stands last is the winner, it’s that simple. Clever tricks rarely lead to good results. Olympic finals aren’t easy, it’s better to fight hard."
In Gan Guoyang’s memory, China’s women’s three big ball sports have had illustrious achievements.
Among them, women’s volleyball is the most prominent, its spirit has inspired a generation.
But women’s basketball and soccer are rather regretful, coming close yet failing at the highest stage in basketball and soccer.
Skill gaps are the main reason, and in finals, China Team lacked some luck.
However, in terms of strategy and preparation, trying to win from a disadvantage, without the mindset and courage to confront directly, might also be an important factor.
After all, in basketball and soccer, we did have some gaps with world-class teams back then; the more the gap, the more in finals we wanted to win through surprises.
But in such matches, fighting hard is the foundation for victory; if you don’t have this belief, you might lose the initiative from the very start.
Since 1981, from high school, college, NBA, through various finals, Gan Guoyang never sought to win with surprises, no matter the paper strength comparison.
Narrow path meets the brave, utilize your advantages, confront directly, hold on till the end, whoever perseveres to the last is the winner.
Not only basketball matches are like this, even more important, grander soccer matches, finals often look worse than semifinals.
Both sides will fight desperately, enduring 0:0, enduring to overtime, enduring to penalty shootouts, whoever lasts is the winner, the process doesn’t matter.
The women’s basketball players and coaches have yet to deeply understand this; Gan Guoyang feels it’s necessary to remind them.
Maybe they can truly change history.
Jiang Xingquan knows Gan Guoyang’s words make sense, though he’s curious how Gan got wind of the women’s team’s tactical arrangement.
Gan Guoyang smiled faintly, pretending to be mysterious: "I have secret agents, spies."
Jiang Xingquan couldn’t imagine how Gan Guoyang could have spies in the women’s team.
But thinking about Gan’s fame, getting some information might not be difficult.
Gan Guoyang having spies in Dream Team, Jiang Xingquan knows well, the guy’s truly resourceful.
At six in the evening, the match officially started; the final between the Chinese Women’s Basketball Team and the CIS team commenced.
The CIS team was experienced and evidently well-prepared before the game, China Team fell behind right from the start.
The entire first half, China Team was suppressed on both offense and defense by the CIS team, continually trailing.
Cong Xuedi and Li Xin, the two fast blades, couldn’t deliver the miraculous effects they did against Cuba in the semifinals under the CIS team’s tight defense.
Wang Fang, coming off the bench, couldn’t score a single point and couldn’t break the deadlock, leaving China’s offense in a quagmire.
At halftime, China Team trailed the CIS team by 8 points, a significant gap in the low-scoring Olympic venue.
During the break, Zheng Hai Xia stepped forward and told Li Yaguang she wanted to play more in the second half.
In the first half, Zheng Hai Xia had 1 attempt and 1 basket, with just one shot.
Li Yaguang glared at Zheng Hai Xia; within the women’s team, Li Yaguang was a tyrant-like figure.
He was extremely strict, controlling all aspects of the players, including Zheng Hai Xia, this elder sister.
Before, Zheng Hai Xia would compromise, for the team, for victory.
But this time, Zheng Hai Xia didn’t back down, she spoke gruffly: "This might be our only chance to win the championship, whether I can play in the next Olympics is uncertain, we can’t miss this opportunity, I’m playing in the second half!"
Normally, Zheng Hai Xia wouldn’t dare speak like this, nor would her teammates support her.
But tonight is different, tonight is the finals, and before the match, she received verbal support from Ah Gan.
Gan Guoyang’s performance established a benchmark for everyone: relying on individual effort can secure victory.
Individual heroism on China’s basketball arena certainly has a foundation.
Facing the players’ "challenge," the usually stubborn and tough Li Yaguang also backed down.
He knows it’s a critical moment, and understands the power of setting an example.