Messina hesitated for a moment, then got up and walked to the sideline, signaling for the team to switch to a 2-3 zone defense.
A 2-3 zone defense was a type of zone defense. Three players stayed near the basket, primarily defending the paint.
Gabajosa was in tremendous form tonight, and he had forced Virtus Bologna to change its defense.
Danilovic caught the ball in the mid-range at the frontcourt and knocked it down, finally breaking Virtus Bologna's scoring drought.
Real Madrid Team brought the ball into the frontcourt again, and Virtus Bologna set up a 2-3 zone defense.
The center stood inside the free-throw line, while the two forwards covered the left and right corners. Ginobili and Danilovic were responsible for the two forty-five-degree angles beyond the three-point line.
There was no Defensive Three-Second Violation in Europe, so this kind of defense gave interior players a huge boost.
That was also why, in FIBA games, a good defensive center could directly dominate the defensive end.
In history, Gobert's impact on the France team had been especially obvious.
Even without a dominant center, using a 2-3 zone defense could make the interior defense as solid as a fortress.
The moment Gabajosa moved inside, he was swarmed. Forget scoring like before—even catching the ball was difficult.
Prigioni tried to feed him the ball but could not get it in, so he turned and exchanged several passes with Sun Hao.
The best way to attack a 2-3 zone defense was with outside three-pointers.
Because only two players defended the perimeter in a 2-3 zone, and they were mainly responsible for the left and right forty-five-degree areas.
This back-and-forth passing was meant to pull their defense around.
Very soon, an opening appeared.
Sun Hao got his shot off from beyond the three-point line before Ginobili could recover.
The fans on both sides immediately fixed their eyes on the spinning basketball in the air.
Whether the three-pointer went in would determine how committed the zone defense would be.
If it went in, Virtus Bologna naturally would not dare keep using it, or at least would not dare collapse so aggressively.
But if it missed, Virtus Bologna would commit fully to the zone and might even shrink infinitely toward the paint.
Especially the first three-pointer. Whether it went in or not would affect not only Virtus Bologna's defense, but also Real Madrid Team's mentality.
Because momentum affected shooting touch, and shooting touch was contagious.
Swish!
With a crisp sound, the three-pointer went cleanly through the net.
As always, Sun Hao did not disappoint!
The next second, Real Madrid Team fans on one side of the court erupted in cheers, while Virtus Bologna fans on the other side let out disappointed sighs.
That contrast and reversal created an indescribable feeling for anyone standing there.
Laso pumped his fist excitedly. With that three-pointer, Real Madrid Team had suddenly seized the initiative.
But Virtus Bologna was no pushover. Otherwise, it would not have made the Semifinals.
Danilovic used a screen to get free and hit an outside three-pointer, answering Sun Hao with an answer ball.
Ginobili had started poorly, so the team's star stepped up.
This time, it was Virtus Bologna's fans cheering while Real Madrid Team's fans sighed in disappointment.
The crowd rose and fell like waves, making for a spectacular scene.
On Real Madrid Team's next possession, Messina made no tactical adjustment, and Virtus Bologna continued with the 2-3 zone.
It seemed Messina's determination to use the zone had not been destroyed by Sun Hao's three-pointer.
That was normal. One three-pointer did not mean someone had good feel, because luck played a major role in it.
Prigioni and Sun Hao continued moving the ball around the perimeter. After several passes, Sun Hao got another good shooting opportunity.
It had to be said that Prigioni's passing was excellent, leading him just a little.
Sun Hao caught the ball and launched another three.
The instant he released it, he knew it was good.
The instinct of a shooter.
Swish!
Sure enough, his second three-pointer also went cleanly through the net!
Sun Hao had hit two straight three-pointers!
He showed the ability of a top-tier shooter, as well as a super Big Heart.
This time, Messina's expression visibly changed.
He looked up at the score.
12-5.
Sun Hao's shooting touch was as hot as a Miami beach in July.
That was absolutely not good news for Virtus Bologna.
On Virtus Bologna's possession, Danilovic continued looking for opportunities on the perimeter.
But Laso shouted from the sideline at that moment, and Real Madrid Team's defense clearly extended farther outward.
They were truly bullying Virtus Bologna for its weak interior strength.
Danilovic had no opening, so Ginobili took the ball inside again and pulled up for a floater.
Clang!
Still no good!
Whether it was because Buford had come to watch or because Sun Hao had switched onto him, his form tonight was abnormally poor.
Gabajosa grabbed another defensive rebound.
Real Madrid Team pushed into the frontcourt, and Virtus Bologna actually continued playing zone defense.
The camera turned to Messina. His face was clouded with worry, but he still did not react. It was clear he was enduring it.
The head coach had not said anything, but the players' Defensive Focus instinctively began to change.
Ginobili and Danilovic, who were responsible for perimeter defense, clearly shaded toward Sun Hao's side.
He had already hit two straight threes. No one could guarantee that Sun Hao would not hit a third.
Prigioni got a good shooting opportunity at that moment. He did not hesitate and immediately fired a three-pointer.
Never mind whether it went in—just that decisive choice was pleasing for the fans to watch.
Swish!
And he made it too!
Shooting touch really was contagious!
Real Madrid Team had now hit three straight three-pointers!
The Real Madrid Team fans in the arena were beyond excited. Many stood up from their seats, waving the KT boards and banners in their hands.
After that Three-Point Rain, Real Madrid Team had extended its lead into double digits!
The situation looked incredibly favorable for them.
At the crucial moment, Ginobili displayed his high basketball IQ. He faked a three, cut sharply inside, and exploited the weakness created by Real Madrid Team's expanded defense.
Danilovic's pass was timely and precise. Ginobili caught it and soared in for a layup, breaking the team's scoring drought and finally getting on the board.
7-15. Virtus Bologna stayed close.
When Real Madrid Team brought the ball into the frontcourt again, Messina had already risen and signaled for the team to abandon the zone defense.
After letting the opponent hit three straight threes, if he still kept using the zone, he really would be an Italian pig.
But seeing Virtus Bologna abandon the zone, Sun Hao and Prigioni moved the ball around outside before lobbing it inside to Gabajosa.
Gabajosa had not touched the ball for a while, and his hands were a little cold. His bank shot after catching the ball missed.
But it did not matter. He followed his shot, rose over the opposing center for the offensive rebound, and scored on the second attempt!
He truly could not be stopped one-on-one in the paint!
Fortunately, Ginobili drove and kicked on the next possession, assisting a teammate for another basket, so the gap did not continue growing.
Real Madrid Team attacked the frontcourt again, and Prigioni continued feeding the ball inside.
Just then, Messina waved from the sideline again, and Virtus Bologna's defense made another small adjustment.
They did not return to the zone, but once the ball went inside, the entire defense clearly collapsed toward the paint.
Gabajosa reacted quickly. Seeing that, he did not Forceful Attack, instead whipping the ball back out to Sun Hao on the perimeter.
That in-and-out sequence, if Zhang Weiping had been commentating, would definitely have made him blurt out a line.
"Hey, look at that, this is the classic inside-out!"
Sun Hao caught the ball and shot again.
The arena inexplicably fell silent.
Swish!
A crisp sound echoed through the arena as Sun Hao hit his third three-pointer of the game—and of the quarter!
His shooting touch was not merely like a Miami beach in July. It was more like the sexy women on that beach, scorching hot!
20-9!
In the stands, Buford shifted his attention from Ginobili to Sun Hao.
Real Madrid Team's Starting Point Guard might have been a little short, but his shooting was unbelievably accurate!
At the sideline, two young men were talking.
"I told you to come watch Sun play. This is how a guard is supposed to play, damn it!"
The tall one sighed to the shorter one beside him.
"Yeah, that feeling... it looks so comfortable, and so effortless. You were right."
The shorter one's eyes were full of longing.
Before tonight, his idol had always been Jordan, and he had always tried to play like Jordan.
But their talents and styles were far too different, leaving him, on the verge of turning professional, lost and confused.
Coming with his friend to watch Sun Hao play today had been completely worth it.
It had given him a clear goal and style for his future career!
Sun Hao's three three-pointers had dealt Virtus Bologna a crushing blow, but even harder to solve was the situation on the court.
Collapse inside and they would shoot you dead. Do not collapse, and Gabajosa turned into The Big Shark in the paint.
Real Madrid Team was flourishing both inside and outside. No matter how Virtus Bologna defended, it was wrong!
Messina, the future Spurs assistant coach, looked up at the score on the scoreboard and scratched his head hard, feeling like he was going crazy.
This was the UEFA Champions League Semifinals, a Single Elimination game where one loss meant death.
With Real Madrid Team scorching both inside and outside, along with such a huge deficit early on, Virtus Bologna already had one foot through the gate of hell!
At the critical moment, Ginobili stepped up. He drove into the paint and finished a Euro Step layup through Gabajosa's defense!
That basket washed away the humiliation of being blocked repeatedly earlier and helped the team preserve its hope!
More importantly, it showed his mentality. He had been blocked twice in a row, yet still dared to challenge him!
That basket sent Virtus Bologna's bench into an uproar, and Messina clenched his fist as well.
Ginobili had been selected by the Spurs this year. Though it was the 57th pick in the second round, a pick that was practically the same as no pick at all.
But if he kept playing like this, his disciple would definitely be able to play in the NBA someday!
However, on the very next possession, Real Madrid Team once again executed an inside-out combination in the frontcourt. Gabajosa drew a foul on his spinning shot and earned two free throws.
Ginobili might be bursting with talent, but with Real Madrid Team playing like this, it would be hard for them to lose!
The game continued, and Virtus Bologna had no answer for Real Madrid Team's balanced inside-out attack.
Gabajosa and Sun Hao in particular were unstoppable, one inside and one outside.
By the third quarter, Sun Hao and Gabajosa had cooled off, and Virtus Bologna, led by Ginobili, once managed to cut the deficit.
But Sun Hao regained his touch in the second half of the quarter, repeatedly firing from outside and helping Real Madrid Team pull away again.
Sun Hao's outside firepower was fully unleashed that night. His scorching touch was like Fire Fist Ace from One Piece, directly burning Virtus Bologna to ashes.
The final score was 77-63.
Both teams had played a high-quality game, but Real Madrid Team had nearly suppressed its opponent from start to finish.
Gabajosa and Sun Hao were undoubtedly the biggest contributors to the team's victory.
The former posted a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, while the latter went 7-for-11 from beyond the three-point line for a game-high 25 points.
Sun Hao's 25 points once again broke the UEFA Champions League scoring record for La Liga players under eighteen, while his seven three-pointers also set the single-game UEFA Champions League record for made threes.
Sun Hao had extended the records that future European prodigies would struggle to surpass by two more.
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