2. GAP(2)

January 22, 2012. Seoul City, South Korea. Song Pagu, Jamshil Dong. Jamshil Student's Gym.

4-COUNTRY FRIENDLY MATCHES FINALISTS

U-South Korea VS U-China

"…"

"What are you doing?"

"Why are they so big? They are insane."

There are 2 high school players in the university team in this game.

One of them was me and the other was from Busan Central High School named Lee Sukmo.

He's a 183cm shooting guard who received a 4-year scholarship to Sung Kyun Kwan University. I met him quite often at national games and got close to him while playing for the national team.

"Did he say he wants to challenge me?"

Sukmo was talking about China's #15, Huy Phung. At 211CM, he was a small forward. Ever since Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, he was the hope for a Chinese player to debut in the NBA.

He's one year older than me and is a player for CBA's Bai Rockets. Prospect players from China usually skip college and go directly into professional play.

But he was really big.

"Can Gun Woo really block him?"

"He's probably screwed."

As I said again, I play forward/center for the university team. My father would always complain about these positions. He did not like how a person's size would determine whether they played these positions.

But there's nothing I could do about that. This is all up to the coach.

If it were up to me, I'd want to play against him.

"You need to play against that dude."

"You wanna go and tell the coach that?"

"You crazy? He'd chew me out if I said something like that."

"Hahahah."

I tap Sukmo's shoulder, who had a funny expression on his face. The reason I like Sukmo so much is that he's fun to be around and is very honest.

Of course, we were always amazed when watching the NBA, but some people would criticize a player's skill and be shy about it. However, Sukmo was not like that. Much like me, he will honestly point out flaws.

One difference between us is that I like to do things that are challenging. That being said, I've never seen Sukmo trying to avoid challenges and take the easy road.

I'm sure he's going to be drafted as a top player for the KBL.

"Everyone, gather around!"

"Man, we're going to get crushed today. Let's do this!"

"…"

Playing against China never felt difficult up to middle school.

In elementary school, at one point, we crushed China 96-46. But as we played against them in middle school, the score difference was 20 points and now they are almost even with us.

If we play 10 games, they'd win 4? If it was back in middle school, we would cleanly sweep them. We were confident enough to win all games.

My father would say it's their coach and leader's fault.

"Hey, hey hey. Gather around. We have to win today no matter what. If we lose, the next time we meet it'll be harder than climbing a mountain. Got it?"

"…"

I was able to understand him 100%.

How long is he going to emphasize our mental state? Victory and champions, anything below 1st place is considered to be trash in this sport. I couldn't find any long-term visions here.

"Let's give our best out there. Fighting!"

I just have to hold it in a little more.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2ND QUARTER 5 : 33

U-South Korea 24 : 41 U-China

"You idiot. Play it right!"

Shall we make a bet?

If there were 2000 spectators and a camera, our coach wouldn't be talking like that. I am willing to bet everything that I have. Even though I don't own anything worth money.

As I played out the game, I realized that our players lack background information. It doesn't come as a surprise, but whenever we play at a national event, we kill two birds with one stone.

But could we call that two birds?

There were always good players, we just didn't know it at the time.

"Why is the ball getting taken so easily?"

The coach's voice echoed throughout the gym.

Hyun Oong, who was having the worst day of his life, looked like he was in a mental struggle. China's point-guard Jang Gyung Bo was an amazing defensive player.

He was 10CM taller than Hyun Oong and his foot was nearly twice as big as his. Since he was much more athletic, it was hard for him to make any plays. During the first quarter, he stole the ball from Hyun Oong twice and, as the second quarter began, he already stole it from him once.

Whether you compare his ability to play under high pressure, or his skill compared to other college student players, he was far more advanced.

Jang Gyung Bo played professionally for a team called Shanghai Sharks.

"Dang it! Timeout!"

*FWEEEEEEEE*

"Timeout!"

As the whistle was blown, a joyful music began to play as the SK Knights' cheerleaders come out.

Since it was the finals, they even had an official announcer to help hype up the crowds. But they were now 20 points ahead of us, so it was difficult to brighten the mood.

Right as we sat on the bench, the coach began to yell at us at rapid speed.

"What are you guys doing?! You better get it together!"

"…"

Why do we have to be treated like sinners?

"What are you trying to do, getting the ball stripped from the front like that? Why are you passing the ball to such obvious places? Sukmo! You run! Gosh, dang it…"

Hyung Oong couldn't do anything, with his head facing the floor with shame. As the other guys' morale was shrinking, Sukmo carefully looked around as he took off his uniform.

The coach and I made eye contact.

"You didn't do anything good either!"

"Yep. Sorry."

My half-hearted reply did not have any feeling in it at all. Would it be bad if I said I don't even know why I have to be sorry? But during the entire timeout, he didn't give us any sort of direction on how to score some points.

As he put in Sukmo, the only thing he said is to play the way we practiced. In my opinion, we're playing just as we had practiced. It's just that the Chinese players are playing better basketball.

"God damn, this is annoying."

"It's always been a difficult game."

"That is true, but damn."

Hyun Woo continued to curse out of frustration as to how the game was being played right now.

"Why is that childish guy not pissing off and still coaching us?"

"Otherwise who else would coach our team?"

"Man, I'm gonna knock him out pretty soon!"

There are definitely changes in the wind when it comes to basketball. After playing professionally for one year, players become coaches, they would frequently participate in systematic skill training rather than running mountains.

However, the national team is stuck in the glory days of the past. This is true whether it's a university team or a team of adult players. I was able to play well in this environment.

It's probably mainly because I will be going back to the States soon, but I couldn't find any other valid reason.

It's probably best for me to just not think about it too much.

"Ah…"

Gun Woo posted up and attempted a hook shot but was blocked by Yi Huy Phung.

As the ball went out the sideline, nobody wanted to stand near it. Our team was losing the will to play. If you wanted to play this game properly, the coach has to do everything to keep the team's morale up.

Man. I just want to play basketball.

Enough of these useless thoughts.

+++++++++++++++++++++

4TH QUARTER 2 : 26

U-South Korea 57 VS 81 U-China

["Do whatever you want!"]

As always, Sukmo tried to act like a good boy in front of the camera and, as always, I felt bad for him.

As the game came close to the end, the coach seemed to transform into a different person and said we should use the best of the time we had left. With Sukmo and I together, he decided to let us play for the remaining time.

There was no sort of plan and no talks of where to position ourselves.

So, I head toward Go Ryuh University sophomore Yi Gae Hoon and talked to him.

"Let's just widen out the court."

"Huh?"

"There's no use in trying to play under the hoop and my defense is stronger than theirs."

"Are you asking me to pass you the ball?"

Gae Hoon passed me the ball, telling me there's no need to repeat myself and to do what I want. I positioned myself at the 3 point line as we started an offensive play. I put the ball near my waist and point for him to create some distance. As I use a small lineup strategy, I am matched up with the slowest Chinese player.

I was also the biggest player in the current lineup.

"What should I do…"

"??"

"I've been under the hoop all day. I don't know if it's a good idea to shoot."

"????"

"I said I'm just going to shoot from here."

After a quick pivot, I just took a jump shot from there. I didn't even have 1% of confidence that I'd make that shot. I just wanted to see how good I was from shooting at this distance.

I've only taken 6 field goals today. Those were either right under the hoop or at the mid-lane. After being directly under the hoop, it was a better idea to make 3 point shots because the Chinese players were bigger.

The ball that I threw surprisingly cleanly went through the hoop.

"KIM. MIN. HYUK! KIM. MIN. HYUK!"

The audience was noisy, but my teammates on the bench were quiet. At least, Sukmo put his hand out to me for a high five.

As we begin a defensive play, people began shouting calls here and there.

The Chinese players didn't seem to notice, considering how they were making slower plays. But the players on the Chinese bench were confident.

*SMACK*

"Don't rush!"

As Gae Hoon got the rebound, Sukmo told him to take it slow.

When a player is in a hurry, it is normal to drop honorifics, but it almost seemed to be intentional this time. But those two were quite close to each other. They will probably joke about this situation after the game.

Sukmo is really good at observing the flow of the situation. There were already 2 Chinese players positioned at our hoop, so there wasn't really a need to rush.

Always prematurely transitioning offensively proves to be extremely inefficient.

We always like to think that we are faster because we have smaller bodies, but since it's not a long-distance race, it makes more sense to say that we are fast because we have long legs.

"Sukmo!"

"…"

But I didn't plan to slow down my tempo.

I'm a little far from the amateur 3-point line. I caught the ball near the NBA 3-point line, and took the shot, trusting in my shooting ability.

*SWOOSH*

"WOOOOOOOOOOW!"

63 : 81

As what was once a 24 point lead quickly changed to 18, the Chinese team then called a timeout. As we headed back to our bench, the seniors tapped my butt or patted my head as they walked by.

And, as I sit down, I hear that voice.

"Hey, Kim Min Hyuk! Why haven't you been playing like that all game?"

"…"

Man…

I'm going to throw some punches soon.