Chapter 43: I’m Here to Crush You!

"That's right, crush those bastards!" Hearing Geng Haoshi’s words, Zhu Di also shouted at the top of his lungs.

The team members executed Manman Yu’s tactical instructions with utmost discipline, each one shadowing their assigned opponent closely.

At this moment, the point guard, Zhou Xiaoshan, was facing the opposing ball handler. “There’s an opening,” he thought. With a quick stride forward and a sweeping motion of his large hand—“Smack!” Zhou Xiaoshan successfully intercepted the ball.

Without the slightest pause, Zhou Xiaoshan dashed straight into the opponent’s half, carrying the ball forward. At the same time, the power forward Sun Peng and center Meng Lang, together with small forward Zhu Di and shooting guard Xu Gaofeng, advanced in pairs, charging rapidly into enemy territory.

The opponent’s retreat was fast, but only three defenders managed to get back in time. With Tiansheng Institute of Technology pressing all five players forward, creating a five-on-three, the ball zipped through the air in swift passes. The defenders couldn't keep up. Zhu Di, the small forward, found an opening, and with a simple jump shot, traced a beautiful arc—the ball fell cleanly through the net.

Tiansheng Institute of Technology reclaimed two points, closing the score to 4–9.

“Hold them! Let’s take another one!” After Zhu Di’s basket, team captain Meng Lang signaled the team to retreat quickly on defense.

Because both teams were evenly matched in height, Tiansheng Institute of Technology’s man-to-man defense was assigned accordingly: tall players marking tall, shorter ones tracking their counterparts.

The opposing point guard began to organize their offense, but Zhou Xiaoshan spread his arms wide in front, hands moving rapidly, just like the thousand arm-swings he practiced each day.

At the same time, Meng Lang, Zhu Di, Sun Peng, and Xu Gaofeng each took their positions, arms ceaselessly waving up and down in front of their respective assignments.

“Their defense is so intense!” one of the opposing spectators gasped.

“Don’t they get tired swinging their arms like that?” another wondered aloud.

“Hmph, let’s see how long they can keep it up,” a third scoffed.

The opposing team had dozens of supporters in the stands, while Tiansheng Institute of Technology could only count on Yang Mimi and Lin Ling.

“Beeeep—!”

“Twenty-four second violation!”

PS: When an offensive possession begins, the team must attempt a shot within 24 seconds of gaining the ball in their own half. Failing to do so results in a 24-second shot clock violation, and ball possession is awarded to the opposition.

“Well defended!” Geng Haoshi thought with satisfaction. Looks like all those drills our beautiful coach forced on us really paid off.

In the next few minutes, the opponents remained tightly locked down, barely able to find any good scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, Tiansheng Institute of Technology, using the “2-2-1” offensive formation, managed to score on nearly every possession.

By the end of the first quarter, the score was 15–11 in favor of Tiansheng Institute of Technology.

In the second quarter, they continued their man-to-man scheme, keeping relentless pressure on their rivals.

Manman Yu mused, The other coach really is useless, sticking to the same tactics without a single adjustment. What a joke!

After all, most university basketball coaches were just regular PE teachers, no match for a world-class professional coach like Manman Yu.

But in her eyes, a basketball coach must possess the means to fully unleash their players’ potential—otherwise, they're unworthy of the title. (PS: This extreme conviction stemmed from an accident Manman Yu had experienced years ago...)

“Crush them!” Manman Yu barked.

“Mimi, did you hear that? She’s swearing again,” Geng Haoshi whispered into Yang Mimi’s ear.

Yang Mimi stifled a laugh behind her hand. “I think your coach has quite a personality.”

That’s not personality, it’s just being crass… But if Goddess Mimi says it’s personality, then personality it is! Whatever she says is right! Geng Haoshi gazed at Yang Mimi, drifting off in a daze once more...

At the end of the second quarter, Tiansheng Institute of Technology had stretched their lead to fifteen points, the score standing at 39–24.

During halftime, both teams returned to their benches. Manman Yu looked at her five starting players, drenched in sweat, and thought, Man-to-man defense really is exhausting... They’ve done well so far, but after just two quarters, they’re already nearing their physical limits. We’ll need to ramp up training intensity immediately!

“He Zhikun, Zhang Zhaolong, Wang Meng, Chen Yu, Er—third quarter, you’re in!”

Captain Meng Lang quickly protested, “Coach, we’re only up by fifteen points. Isn’t it a bit early to send in all substitutes?”

“Oh? Feeling confident now, are you? Starting to question my decisions?” Manman Yu’s eyes glinted coldly as she stared him down.

Meng Lang swallowed and shook his head.

She continued, “It’s only because you starters are so lacking in stamina. They’ll have to cover for you for now.”

“I’m fine, Coach!” Meng Lang insisted, though the remaining four starters stayed silent—it was true, they were all exhausted.

This had already been evident during the previous late-night marathon: apart from Geng Haoshi, who only finished with the help of “Power Surge,” Meng Lang was the only one likely to make it to the end.

“Don’t you trust your teammates?” Manman Yu challenged.

Meng Lang hesitated—a part of him really didn’t trust them, but he dared not say so.

Manman Yu addressed the substitutes she’d just named: “Listen up! After you go in, you must keep the lead above fifteen points. If you can’t, you can see yourselves off the court!”

He Zhikun, Zhang Zhaolong, Wang Meng, and Chen Yu all stayed quiet, but Geng Haoshi declared, “Don’t worry—leave it to me!”

Ha! Goddess Mimi, did you see that? I’m the only one bold enough to stand up to this demon coach! Geng Haoshi felt a surge of pride.

Crack! Manman Yu snapped her whip against the floor. “Good! Er, since you’re so fired up… if you fail, I’ll reward you with a few lashes!”

Damn! Just when I was trying to show off in front of Goddess Mimi, you cut me down so fast. What a demon… Geng Haoshi turned to Yang Mimi, trying to salvage his cool. “Our coach just likes to joke around with me, haha…”

Crack! Another lash struck the floor. “You can test whether I’m joking if you like!” Seeing Geng Haoshi chatting with someone else while she spoke to him only fueled Manman Yu’s anger.

“Beeeeep—!”

The whistle for the start of the third quarter blew.

“Go get ‘em, Big Brother Er!” Yang Mimi called out, making a cheering gesture.

Geng Haoshi and the other four substitutes took to the court. Their opponents kept their starters on, including their captain, Dai Ritian.

Seeing Geng Haoshi enter, Dai Ritian walked over. “Finally got the guts to step in and meet your fate, have you?”

Geng Haoshi smiled and shook his head. “You really have some nerve, talking big after losing. Well, since fate has brought us together, I’ll let you in on a secret—I'm here to wipe the floor with you!”