90:73, China Team defeated France Team with a decisive 17-point advantage, successfully advancing to the men's basketball finals of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
This is the first time China Team has reached the finals to compete for the gold medal since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and the opponent is again Team USA.
Gan Guoyang only scored 25 points in this match, but he was highly efficient, missing only 2 shots.
He consistently broke through the opponent's defense at the beginning of both halves, forcing them to make changes.
Once France Team changed strategies, China Team immediately responded, causing France Team to struggle on both ends.
France Team truly had no solution; they lacked a superstar like Ah Gan, heavily depending on their tactical setups.
Without a tactical advantage or securing the initiative, their gameplay became too difficult.
In a post-game interview, the coach of France Team candidly said, "Give me Ah Gan, and we could make it to the finals too!"
Everyone recognizes Ah Gan's ability; whether in the NBA or FIBA, he is undeniably ahead of the pack.
Chinese media were thrilled, with everyone discussing post-game that if Ah Gan hadn't retired in 1996 and joined the national team for the Atlanta Olympics, the Dream Team II might have been defeated at their doorstep.
Gan Guoyang in 1996 was the strongest form in his career.
However, Gan Guoyang doesn't think so; instead, he feels that now is his best time.
After enduring the struggles of the 2000 season and shedding all burdens with retirement, then undergoing two months of systematic training, he feels excellent in all aspects, much better than at the start of the 1999 season.
By easily defeating France Team, only Team USA stands in the way of China Team.
As the Sydney Olympics draws to a close, China Team continues to win gold and silver in dominant sports like table tennis, diving, and gymnastics.
China Team exceeds 20 gold medals on the leaderboard, more than at any previous Olympics.
China's sports industry is thriving along with the nation's development.
Of course, the basketball team gold medal is the most significant and most watched piece.
Other than a men's 100-meter sprint gold medal or a World Cup football championship, no other world championship title can compare to this Olympic men's basketball gold medal.
In the foreseeable future, a men's 100-meter sprint gold medal has potential; Gan Guoyang has proven that the explosive power of yellow-skinned people is not inferior, just lacking scientific training and the emergence of a phenomenal talent.
As for the World Cup football championship, that's quite distant, as football relies more on teamwork, and one or two geniuses aren't enough.
On the eve of the men's basketball finals, protection for Gan Guoyang reached the highest level, with local police patrolling the hotel surroundings and internal security measures upgraded to the highest level.
However, Gan Guoyang wasn't idly sitting in his room but instead went over to Team USA's side to play cards with Garnett, Payton, and others.
Rick Carlisle initially didn't allow players to interact with Ah Gan before the finals, but he couldn't limit the players' freedom, so they eventually gathered for two tables of card games in the room.
In the games, Gan Guoyang was quite generous, losing money freely and making Payton, Jide, Mourning, and others very happy with their winnings.
That night, Gan Guoyang lost tens of thousands of US dollars, treating it as gifting pocket money.
Although NBA players earn high salaries, in reality, a multi-million-dollar contract doesn't leave as much as imagined.
After taxes, agent fees, insurance funds, and other miscellaneous costs, what's left isn't much.
Additionally, many black players like to gamble, buy luxury goods, and support friends, resulting in significant expenses.
Therefore, if they can win several thousand to tens of thousands from card games, with no tax or commissions, they're very pleased.
By ten o'clock at night, Gan Guoyang returned to rest, although Payton and others were reluctant to let the god of wealth Ah Gan leave.
The young Garnett asked Payton and others why Ah Gan would play cards to lose money, questioning if it was to bribe them so they'd lose the game tomorrow.
Payton replied, "What dream are you having, kid? Would you lose to China Team just because you won Ah Gan's money?"
Garnett shook his head repeatedly, saying that was impossible; card games are separate from the match.
Jide suggested that perhaps tomorrow Ah Gan plans to dominate the game and wanted to alleviate his guilt a bit.
Jide's comment brought a silence over the entire room.
Everyone then returned to their rooms to rest and prepare for the next day's match.
When Gan Guoyang returned to his room, he told his wife he had lost tens of thousands of US dollars to the Dream Team players.
Wang Fuxi questioned, "What are you doing? Isn't tens of thousands of US dollars still money? Just throwing it away like that? Do you think by losing money to them, they'll lose to you in the game?"
Gan Guoyang replied, "Of course not, they're not foolish."
"Then why, when you're skilled at gambling?"
"Just sprinkling some money like it's nothing, it feels better inside."
"..."
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October 1st, the 51st anniversary of National Day, is also the last day of the Olympics.
Other seasons have mostly ended, and the men's basketball finals will be held on this day, providing a perfect conclusion to the Sydney Olympics.
Players from China Team were either tense or relaxed before the match.
The younger players were very nervous, with Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi trembling with adrenaline, not fear, causing involuntary muscle movement.
The veteran players were fine, especially Hu Weidong, Sun Jun, and others who had played in the 1992 finals.
Having been tense before, they knew exactly how to play the game.
Gan Guoyang had been in an excited state since the morning, as the October 1st finals were perfectly timed.
The game was scheduled for two o'clock in the afternoon, with the Olympic closing ceremony held afterward.
This Olympic men's basketball gold medal match is considered the grand finale of the entire Sydney Olympics.
The world's eyes are once again on the basketball court, with this match's viewership set to reach new heights.
The record book of ratings god will have another entry.
But this time, Gan Guoyang wants only the gold medal, nothing else.