After responding to the fans in the arena, Tang Tian and his teammates headed back to the locker room through the player tunnel.
Yao Ming was already waiting for them in the tunnel.
His eyes were red.
Tang Tian had promised him that the Number 13 jersey would appear on the podium, and now he had delivered.
Whether they could defeat the USA Team in the end or not, everyone, including him, was already completely satisfied.
He reached out and hugged every member of the China Team one by one, then embraced Tang Tian for a long while.
"Thank you."
After they parted, Yao Ming spoke from the bottom of his heart.
His wish had been fulfilled.
"The final hasn't been played yet."
Tang Tian said with a smile.
"That's right, there's still the final. Let's beat them again!"
Yao Ming nodded along.
Perhaps most people outside felt that the China Team had already completed its mission by reaching the final, and no one truly expected them to defeat the USA Team in the final.
But they had already beaten Spain, the team that posed the greatest threat to the USA Team. That proved they had what it took to compete with the USA Team.
Besides, they had already beaten them once in the Group Stage. They just had to do it one more time.
Even if Yao Ming had never managed it back then, like Tang Tian, he had never been afraid.
Back in the locker room, the players naturally celebrated.
Since alcohol was not allowed inside the Olympic venues, they could only use water instead. Every one of them ended up drenched.
Still, it let all their excitement out.
The players gradually left. Tang Tian rested for a while before finally leaving with Zhou Qi.
Although Zhou Qi