"Coach Guo, did you imagine Angola would give the team so much trouble before the game?"
The Sports Daily reporter held out the microphone, eager to know how Guo Qiang would answer.
He had boasted before the game that only the Dream Team was their opponent, yet they were almost overturned by Angola. The media was waiting for this topic to generate clicks.
"This game was mainly for practice. You can see Tang Long and Yao Ming played less than half the game. After all, our goal is the Olympics this summer."
Guo Qiang glared at the reporter and said, "Also, I disagree with your point. Our players all performed at their best, and the Angolan players are not weak."
The reporters were clearly not satisfied with Guo Qiang's answer. As soon as the first reporter lowered his microphone, another one picked it up to ask a question.
"Coach Guo, is our team too reliant on Tang Long and Yao Ming? If a team can only depend on one or two players' outstanding performance, what happens to the game results if these two players encounter problems?"
Coach Guo's face immediately fell. "If you weren't here with media credentials, how would you have the right to interview? Following your logic, you could just interview without your press pass."
"Coach Guo..."
"Alright, that's all for the post-game interview today."
Guo Qiang ignored more than a dozen reporters who had stood up ready to ask questions, handing over the press conference to the assistant coach and returning to the locker room early.
These reporters always wanted to create a big sensation. They had already won, yet it felt like a shameful victory, which made him furious.
The team had performed well, but it seemed many people were not satisfied.
Not satisfied with the game, not satisfied with the outcome.
They believed Long Guo should have won by a landslide against Angola.
What did these people know!
Back in the locker room, Guo Qiang saw the players chatting and laughing, and his anger flared.
"Coach Guo, what's wrong? You're looking glum. Aren't you happy about winning?"
"Happy as hell..." Guo Qiang was about to retort, but seeing it was Tang Long who spoke, he swallowed his curse.
This game had little to do with Tang Long. If Tang Long hadn't been on the court, they might have actually been defeated.
In that case, it wouldn't just be the media questioning them; criticism from above would have arrived as soon as the game ended.
"Hmph." Guo Qiang snorted coldly. "Do you guys think it's all fun and games? Your opponent was just Angola, still a distance from traditional powerhouses. What's there to be proud of by beating Angola? And you, Yi Jian, Coach Jonas has told you countless times to play tougher inside, why aren't you decisive?"
"Sun Yue, Chen Jianghua, you are professional players. How could you have committed so many violations in one game? Where is your professionalism?"
Guo Qiang swept his gaze over everyone, his face ashen. "Tonight, except for Tang Long and Yao Ming, everyone else will stay for extra training."
"No way, Coach Guo. We won, and we still have to do extra training?"
"What, you have an opinion?"
Da Zhi opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say the rest.
He had learned his lesson and wouldn't be as reckless as before.
"Alright, pack up and get ready for extra training."
Fortunately, it was their home court. Guo Qiang spoke to the staff about the extra training, and they quickly made arrangements.
The players reluctantly began their extra practice.
However, training driven by such pressure didn't yield good results; no one was enthusiastic.
The more it was like this, the angrier Guo Qiang became.
"You can outlast me. If necessary, we'll keep practicing until today is over."
Seeing that Guo Qiang was serious, the players finally buckled down.
A peculiar scene unfolded.
Not only could the sounds of player confrontations be heard in the arena, but also the faint rumbling of players' stomachs.
Before long, their clothes were soaked with sweat, and the players were drenched.
"We won but are still being punished. I've had enough."
"You talk too much. Be careful Coach Guo hears you and punishes you again."
Zhou Peng shot Xu Yong a glare.
"I think he has a point," Li Xiaoxu glanced at Guo Qiang and whispered, "What era is this, still doing this kind of thing?"
"What makes me angrier is the special treatment. Why don't Tang Long and Yao Ming have to be punished? Aren't they with us?"
Zhang Kai snorted upwards through his nostrils. "This isn't special treatment."
"Give it a rest. Those two are NBA stars, the core players. You still want to compare yourself to them?"
"We're all training for the national team, why can't we compare?"
Some players were clearly defiant, and they even blamed Tang Long and Yao Ming for Coach Guo's decision to punish them.
Yao Ming was somewhat better off.
After all, he was familiar with these players before.
But everyone had just met Tang Long, so he naturally became the target of their complaints.
"What are you talking about? If you had their skills, you could get special treatment too. Gossiping behind their backs, where's your character? If you have a problem, go tell Coach Guo. I'd at least respect you as a man."
"Zhou Peng, what did you say? Try saying that again."
"Try it then, I'm not afraid of you."
Zhou Peng and Zhang Kai squared off as they spoke.
"What are you doing? Do you think the training is too light? Fine, split into two teams and play a scrimmage. The winners rest, the losers continue practicing for another two hours."
As soon as Guo Qiang finished speaking, he heard someone from behind say, "A scrimmage? I love it. Count me in."
Tang Long and Yao Ming appeared on the court. The former said cheerfully, "Coach, we're also part of the team, so if there's punishment, we should all be punished together."
"Hypocritical." It was unclear who muttered it.
"Hypocritical or not, talking is useless. It's about actions," Tang Long looked at Yao Ming. "Brother Yao, weren't we going to play a scrimmage? Should we form one team, or lead our own teams?"
Tang Long wasn't being arrogant; he genuinely had the confidence to speak like this.
Yao Ming looked at Tang Long, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's each lead a team."
"No need. You're not convinced, are you? Yao Ming and Tang Long on one team. Choose your teammates yourselves."
Yao Ming shrugged helplessly.
The coach had spoken, so he could only follow his arrangements.
"Zhou Peng, Ding Mianhui, Da Zhi."
Tang Long picked three players. The remaining Sun Yue, Du Feng, Yi Jian, Chen Jianghua, and Zhu Fangyu formed one team, while Wang Lei, Wang Shipeng, Zhang Qingpeng, Li Nan, and Liu Wei formed another.
After the teams were divided, the players' expressions had indeed improved from their previous restlessness. Anger mixed with defiance made their eyes look resolute.
"I'll say it again, the winners can rest, the losers continue practicing. Who gets to play in the game against Da Mao depends on who has better condition and stamina."