Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The game was intense and exhilarating, with the first-year players consistently scoring and proving their place in the first-string team.

22-20.

"I didn't expect this to be such a heated game, too!"

"Yeah, it's like I'm watching a real game in the league!"

As the second quarter commenced, it became apparent that the competition was fiercer than anyone had anticipated.

Zeren and Kai were tied in points—a situation that was highly unusual. Both had scored eight points each, while Jinping lagged behind with four, shaking his head in frustration.

He felt dejected, but at the same time, he felt that he couldn't catch up to them anymore.

It was a good thing that Eva was busy with her student council work and didn't watch their practice game!

Zeren and Kai continued their face-off, each trying to outdo the other.

"Fudge," Zeren muttered as Kai intercepted a pass that was supposed to be for Jet.

He watched Kai with furrowed eyebrows, frowning even deeper when he performed a lay-up.

24-20.

At that moment, Zeren couldn't believe how far Kai had come.

When they first met, Kai could barely dribble.

Now, here he was, going toe-to-toe with him in a heated game.

It was a humbling experience for Zeren, but it also filled him with more determination.

As the game progressed, Yuze seemed to be holding himself back. Jet, noticing this, couldn't resist teasing their Captain.

"Hey, Yuze, are you going easy on us? Do your best, Captain!"

Yuze shook his head with a small smile.

Indeed, he had been holding himself back for the past two quarters.

He always planned on doing his best. However, it was different this time.

Yuze felt that watching them play gave him a chance to gauge their skills.

They've all improved so much, especially the first-years, which led him to take a step back to continue watching them play.

Kai's rapid improvement was almost unbelievable. His agility, ball-handling, and shooting accuracy had all advanced remarkably. He still had his flaws, but it made Yuze feel better about the situation.

Kai shouldn't be such a strong player in only a span of two months.

Zeren, too, had become a formidable shooter, already proving himself to be able to go against Kexin.

Jinping, despite being behind in points, showed his strength and perseverance.

"Time for the third quarter!" Lina exclaimed from the side, which surprised the crowd.

"It's already the third quarter? I was so focused that I didn't even realize that time had already passed that much," Yani absent-mindedly said.

Suzy chuckled in amusement. "It sounds to me that you're enjoying this game."

Yani's eyes widened in realization.

"No, I'm not," she muttered. However, her actions betrayed her words as she continued gazing at the court with bright eyes.

With the scores still close, Yuze decided it was time to show the team what a real play looked like.

He wanted to inspire them and push their limits further.

Yuze orchestrated a play with the precision of a seasoned leader. He passed the ball to Alen, who quickly moved it to Mingze.

Mingze then sent it back to Yuze, who was now positioned perfectly near the basket. With a powerful leap, Yuze soared through the air and executed a slam dunk.

The crowd stood and cheered even louder than before.

The sound that came from the crowd was louder in proportion to the amount of people on the bleachers.

Alen and Mingze looked at each other with wide eyes before gazing at their hands.

"So...that's how it's done," Mingze muttered.

"I didn't even feel it," Alen mindlessly said, still amazed. "I just felt like I had to pass it back to him."

Kai went over to the two amazed players and patted their backs.

"Focus now," Kai said, causing them to snap back to reality.

Yuze landed gracefully, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Yuze smirked at Kun and Jet, shaking his head slightly. "You guys better up your game if you want us to win," he teased.

"The first-year players are doing better than you," Yuze continued, knowing that they'll feel even more fired up if he taunted them.

Kun and Jet exchanged determined looks.

They wanted to prove themselves as crucial parts of the team. Their faces hardened with resolve, and without a word, they decided on a strategy.

"Let's go with the 2v1 defense system," Kun suggested, his eyes narrowing with focus.

Jet nodded.

As the game resumed, Kun and Jet positioned themselves to double-team Yuze. Yuze found it amusing at first but soon realized that they were serious. They were guarding him tightly, cutting off his movements and limiting his options. Yuze could feel their desperation and determination to prove their worth.

Meanwhile, Zeren and Jinping capitalized on the defensive shift. With Yuze effectively contained, they found more opportunities to score. Zeren's sharp shooting and Jinping's quick footwork allowed them to close the gap. Soon, they even managed to pull ahead by two points.

54-56.

Yuze sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

Seeing this, Kai jogged over and placed a reassuring hand on Yuze's shoulder.

"Use me to your advantage," Kai said.

Yuze's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Look—we're in the middle of the game," Yuze seriously said. "Besides, I don't swing that way."

Kai's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"No!" he quickly exclaimed.

"Use me as your teammate," Kai explained. "We can do this together. Pass to me when you can, and I'll do the same."

Yuze pursed his lips, suddenly feeling awkward.

"Oh, alright," he said before dribbling the ball to their side of the court.

They quickly devised a duo play.

Kai set a screen for Yuze, drawing Kun and Jet's attention. Yuze pretended to move in one direction, causing the defenders to shift. At the last moment, Yuze spun and slipped behind Kai, who handed the ball off with perfect timing. Yuze then took the shot, sinking it effortlessly. The crowd erupted in cheers as the gap closed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

56-56

With their confidence boosted, they decided to execute another duo play that they hadn't done before.

It was almost unbelievable how good they worked together.

This time, Kai had the ball and dribbled toward the left side of the court, drawing Kun and Jet's defense. Yuze positioned himself on the right, appearing unguarded.

Kai faked a drive to the basket, causing the defenders to converge on him. At the last second, Kai flicked the ball behind his back to Yuze, who caught it mid-air and executed a perfect alley-oop. The ball swished through the net, adding another two points to their score.

58-56

"Let's keep this momentum," Yuze encouraged, slapping Kai's hand.

With newfound teamwork, they continued their strategic plays.

Lina watched them with wide eyes, feeling like she had discovered a hidden gem.

"This is it," she muttered.

"Our key to beating the Feng Foxes."