March 25, the Elite Eight battle to reach the Final Four took place at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion.
The champions of the four regions would head straight to Seattle, where the 1984 NCAA champion would be decided.
Before heading to the venue, Gan Guoyang made a call to Wang Fuxi from the hotel, as she was not coming to watch the ga in Los Angeles this ti.
The price of the tickets and the round-trip flight were too expensive, and since the school hadn’t suspended classes, it was too far from Portland to Los Angeles. She would have to skip classes to co.
Over the phone, Wang Fuxi said she and her roommate were preparing to go to the multidia classroom to watch the ga.
The athletic departnt had arranged a live broadcast in the classroom, and with two hours to go before the start of the ga, they estimated they would run out of seats if they didn’t get there soon.
"Everyone is rooting for Gonzaga, hoping you guys can win the ga. Ah Gan, you have to push hard, and once you make it to Seattle, I’ll definitely co to the ga."
Wang Fuxi’s voice ca from far away Oregon, gentle yet determined.
It wasn’t easy for the two of them to talk on the phone, it wasn’t always that she was in the dormitory and the dorm manager could get a hold of her.
"Okay, I got it, after all, we made a promise. If I make it to Seattle, the team will be in seclusion, and we probably won’t be able to see each other before the ga is over. Rember, bring your pink hat to the ga, so I can find you in the stands."
"I know, don’t worry, I’ll be watching you tonight."
After hanging up the phone, Gan Guoyang went with the team to the Pauley Pavilion.
Compared to the last ga, there were even more people in attendance tonight.
CBS was broadcasting the ga on television. A large number of dia personnel arrived at the court, their caras trained on the playing field.
Tonight’s ga was being transmitted to thousands of hos; sports fans across Arica were watching this battle between black and white.
While the Bulldogs Team was warming up on the court, Gan Guoyang was joking around with his teammates, at one mont pulling Stockton’s hair, the next patting Anderson’s head, then playing a ga of Horse with Van Nort, appearing very relaxed.
He knew everyone was really tense; Stockton hadn’t cracked a smile in two whole days, Van Nort had visited the bathroom several tis before the ga, and even Beelman hadn’t sworn once while setting up the tactics today, which was clearly not normal.
Pressure was everywhere; everyone wanted to keep moving forward, but each night, only one team was destined to stay.
During the entrance ceremony, the players from both teams made their appearances one by one. Wearing the lighter-colored jerseys was Georgetown, with Patrick Ewing the third to enter, his appearance earning a wave of cheers and applause from the audience.
Gan Guoyang was the last to enter, and the cheering and applause for him was louder than for Ewing, which seed to annoy Ewing, who cast a glance at Gan Guoyang from a distance.
The last to be introduced were the coaches; Beelman was wearing his most expensive suit tonight, while John Thompson sported his customary white towel on his right shoulder, said to be a tribute to his mother who was a chef.
Standing at center court, ready for the jump ball, Gan Guoyang beca more serious than anyone else, shedding his playful deanor from the warm-up.
He stared straight at Ewing, his gaze avoiding nothing, making Ewing’s skin crawl and fueling his irritation.
Before the ga started, the comparisons between him and Gan Guoyang echoed in his ears.
Ewing had long heard of the Chinese center’s legendary story and his stunning performances in previous gas.
Although Ewing was excellent, overall he was part of the Georgetown Hoyas, the defensive core as a center, being called the second Bill Russell, helping his team win with blocks and rebounds, not particularly standout personal stats (averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds).
Gan Guoyang, on the other hand, was more like Wilt Chamberlain, with exaggerated personal stats (averaging 29 points and 15 rebounds, ranking second and first in the country), and extraordinary offensive power.
The two were pitched as a battle between the strongest shield and the sharpest spear.
However, there were also those who said that, in terms of defense alone, Gan was even better than Ewing.
And his intelligence, Gan was a smart Asian while Ewing was illiterate.
Ewing had long been accustod to such remarks; every bit of discrimination turned into anger stored in his heart, which then erupted on the basketball court. He wanted to prove all these people wrong.
So, faced with Gan Guoyang’s gaze, Ewing glared back fiercely.
Before the referee prompted them to get ready, Gan Guoyang’s mouth suddenly moved, as if saying sothing to Ewing.
Ewing was puzzled, wondering what the guy was saying.
Gan’s lips moved a few more tis, his gaze fixed on Ewing, clearly speaking to him.
"What the hell do you want to say, idiot?" Ewing couldn’t help but ask.
The referee then instructed them to get ready, Gan Guoyang bent his knees, and the ball flew out from the referee’s hands.
Gan Guoyang jumped up, tipping the ball to Stockton, and the ga began.
Ewing, however, hadn’t jumped, and the TV comntator said, "Ewing didn’t jump, he just zoned out; what is he thinking?"
Gonzaga started their first offense.
Georgetown was using a 2-3 zone defense, which was the best in Arica.
John Thompson’s players were big and agile, Ewing was 7 feet tall, power forward Graham was 6 feet 9, with two 6 feet 7 swingn, as well as a 6 feet 2 guard Jackson.
Five spider-like players filled the cramped half-court space even more tightly.
Against Georgetown’s zone defense, it was very difficult for guards to break into the paint.
Gonzaga’s opening offense was patient, Gan Guoyang tried to get the ball in the low post, but Ewing actively worked to front and prevent the pass.
The two players fiercely contested under the basket, with Gan Guoyang finally eting a strong opponent in terms of strength.
However, when Ewing first confronted Gan Guoyang under the basket, he was also amazed at the strength of this man.
After several ball movents, McPhie received a pass in the corner and shot, but the ball hit the rim and missed.
Gan Guoyang grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on the put-back, claiming the first points of the ga.
After scoring, Gan Guoyang moved his lips at Ewing, but Ewing couldn’t hear what he was saying.
Georgetown’s first offensive shot from outside didn’t go in, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the defensive rebound and Stockton initiated the counterattack.
Gan Guoyang raced down the court like a blaze, received Stockton’s pass, and finished with a fast-break dunk!
Ewing didn’t expect Gan Guoyang to go for a fast break after getting the rebound, and his speed was so fast.
Georgetown’s shots from outside kept missing, and although Georgetown players crowded under the basket to fight for the offensive rebound, Gan Guoyang firmly secured it.
Gonzaga counterattacked again, with Stockton advancing to the frontcourt, dribbling low to evade defense, finding a gap and passing under the basket, where Gan Guoyang caught the ball, stepped and flew up, dunking with one hand over Ewing!
"Sunny Gan’s one-handed dunk! Woh! A dunk over Ewing’s head!"
Gan Guoyang demonstrated his strong explosive power and his unique style of play.
As a center, he actively participated in the fast break, leveraging Stockton’s precise passing to beco a brilliant finisher, rather than always being mired in set-play battles.
Ewing was infuriated after conceding 6 points to Gan Guoyang consecutively, with dunks right over his head.
What made him even more angry was that after dunking, Gan Guoyang stared at him again, mouthing words, but Ewing could not hear what he was saying.
Georgetown started off at a disadvantage, their tactics proving problematic, as John Thompson had underestimated Gonzaga’s sharpness in fast breaks and Gan Guoyang’s rebounding control.
Their strategy to crash the boards for offensive rebounds was a mistake, and Thompson imdiately made corrections.
Georgetown began to patiently move the ball around the periter, using baseline cuts to disrupt Gonzaga’s defense.
Jackson found an opportunity from outside for a mid-range shot and made it, giving Georgetown 2 points.
Then, on defense, Georgetown applied a half-court trap.
Just after crossing the half-court line, Stockton was double-tead by Georgetown’s guards, pushing him towards the corner.
Stockton turned the ball over, Georgetown stole it and counterattacked, making a layup for two points.
In just a matter of seconds, Georgetown clawed back two points.
This was undoubtedly a tough ga; Georgetown from the Big East boasted the best defense in all of Arica, tighter and more oppressive than Gonzaga’s.
But Gonzaga’s advantage was just one thing – their ace center.
Facing Georgetown’s double-team, Gan Guoyang actively ca out to give Stockton an outlet.
Stockton passed the ball to Gan Guoyang, who then imdiately handed it back to Stockton, escaping Georgetown’s double-team.
Instead of forcing his way down low, Gan Guoyang constantly set screens for his teammates, with the ball continually passed around the half-court to stretch Georgetown’s defense.
Their passing was skillful, a result of extensive training.
Finally, Gan Guoyang facilitated a play for Van Nort who found a 45-degree angle opportunity and took a mid-range jumper that went in.
The teams entered a tug-of-war phase; when Georgetown passed the ball to Ewing, he took a turn-around jump shot upon reception. His turning was fast but a bit stiff. His shooting touch was good, and the shot went in.
Gan Guoyang also received the ball in the low post, and Georgetown imdiately double-tead him. Suddenly, Gan Guoyang made a behind-the-head pass to the basket, where Van Nort caught it and easily scored the layup!
"What a pass!" the comntator couldn’t help but exclaim.
Gan Guoyang’s intelligent behind-the-head pass ignited enthusiasm both in Pauley Pavilion and in front of TVs everywhere, undoubtedly becoming one of this year’s classic NCAA plays.
Ewing again received the ball, shot, and scored. His performance tonight was not bad.
But soone was doing even better. Gan Guoyang once again received Stockton’s pass, breaking Georgetown’s double-team.
Holding the ball at the top of the key, he feigned a play while the Gonzaga formation spread out. With an elusive look in his eyes, he suddenly drove with the ball, breaking past Ewing and into the paint to execute a move and hook shot, scoring two points!
This shot not only went in, but it also drew a foul from Ewing, earning a trip to the free-throw line.
After sinking the additional free throw, Gan Guoyang had scored 9 consecutive points, with a shooting percentage of one hundred percent.
Once more, he moved his lips at Ewing, as if chanting so ancient Eastern spell.
Finally, Ewing could no longer contain himself and, during the offense, shouted at Gan Guoyang, "What the hell are you saying? What are you saying!?"
"I’m about to steal the ball from you."
"What?"
Ewing’s focus wavered, and he didn’t notice his teammate passing the ball to him.
Gan Guoyang stepped forward and intercepted the pass, tossing the ball to McPhie, and Gonzaga launched a counterattack.
In a two-man fast break, McPhie made a long pass to Stockton, who scored the layup!
Using speed and offense, Gonzaga forced Georgetown to call a tiout.
And Ewing was ntally disrupted, wondering continuously, what on earth was this guy saying?
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