Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The second quarter commenced, and it was safe to say that it wasn't any different from the first.

The teams chased their scores back and forth, neither willing to give an inch.

The intensity on the court was suffocating, and every move was met with a counter, every point with an answer.

"The scores are so close!" Mark exclaimed.

"The Shizi Dogs have gotten up from their slump, and they're now showing everyone that they're worthy players against the Feng Foxes!"

Coach Ben clicked his tongue as he glanced at the professional scorer's table.

"I swear—Mark is enjoying this way too much," he muttered.

He, on the other hand, didn't enjoy it at all. The fact that the Shizi Dogs kept trailing behinf them in terms of score left him frustrated.

Chunlei dribbled down the court. He faked left, then right, causing Kai to stumble. Seizing the moment, he drove towards the basket with incredible speed. The crowd held their breath as Chunlei leaped, executing a layup that kissed the backboard before swishing through the net.

"That's Chunlei for you!" Mark Li exclaimed, his voice echoing through the stadium. "He makes it look so easy!"

42-39.

Kai quickly took the ball and began his own assault on the basket. With quick, precise movements, he dodged defenders.

He moved like a shadow, hard to pin down and impossible to predict. As he neared the basket, he faked a shot, causing Chunlei to jump. Kai slid past him, laying the ball into the hoop.

42-41.

The crowd erupted in applause and astonishment.

They couldn't believe how in tune Kai was with Chunlei. It was almost as if he could read his mind.

The back and forth continued, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for every point.

The Shizi Dogs were doing a fantastic job of suppressing the other players on the Feng Foxes, and the Feng Foxes were equally skilled in their defense.

As the second quarter drew to a close, the score remained tight, with only a two-point gap separating the teams.

46-44.

The buzzer sounded, signaling halftime. Both teams retreated to their benches, the players dripping with sweat and breathing heavily.

Meanwhile, the crowd began discussing what had happened in the past two quarters.

"I really thought we were cooked," Shang said.

"Me too," Tony said. "But, they managed to keep close."

"I'm worried, though," Shang said, biting his lip. "They haven't managed to get past them in terms of score."

Dylan clicked his tongue as he observed their bench. "I think Kai has something up his sleeve."

On the Shizi Dogs' bench, Lina gathered the players. "Alright, is it time to pull out the ideal lineup?" she asked, looking at Kai.

Kai shook his head. "Not yet. We're holding our own. Let's keep it a little longer."

The boys, despite feeling exhausted, nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, on the Feng Foxes' bench, Zeren leaned in close to his teammates.

"I think I have something that would help us suppress Kai," he said.

His teammates curiously looked at him.

"He's a hassle on the court," Shilei sighed. "Even more than Yuze."

Meanwhile, Chunlei looked more serious than ever.

"What is it?" he asked.

Zeren smirked. "Kexin's tired. Let me replace him for the third quarter. I'll tell you then," he said.

Kexin sighed, still feeling breathless. Then, he nodded. "Yeah, my shooting accuracy has gone down," he said.

Coach Ben also nodded.

"What is it?" Yiming asked. "What's Kai's weakness?"

A wide smile made its way on Zeren's lips as he revealed Kai's weakness.

As he continued, the others also smiled.

As the buzzer sounded, the teams made their adjustments and returned to the court for the third quarter.

The Shizi Dogs replaced Kun with Renren and Yuze with a benchwarmer to give him some rest. The Feng Foxes swapped Kexin with Zeren and Bocheng with one of their own benchwarmers.

With their current lineups, it felt like an even match again.

As the game resumed, the Feng Foxes appeared more cunning. Zeren's words echoed in their heads, guiding their strategy.

Chunlei and Yiming focused on Kai, closing in on him and blocking his path to the paint.

"As expected," Yuze said from the bench. "They're leaving the new faces alone."

Renren frowned as he was left unguarded.

He wanted to make a play and show them that he wasn't one to be underestimated.

However, he needed the ball to be able to curate such a play.

"Crap," Kai muttered as the two best players of the Feng Foxes closed in on him.

He looked around, and there was an opening—Renren was waiting.

However, Kai knew that if he passed, then the ball would inevitably go to the Feng Foxes.

With that, he dribbled strongly and took a step back, left with no choice but to take his shot from the three-point line.

Much to his surprise, the two of them didn't follow him closely at the three-point line.

Instead, it was almost as if they left him alone.

Chunlei and Yiming exchanged knowing glances.

Meanwhile, Kai took a deep breath, squared up, and launched the ball toward the basket.

The ball arced through the air, the crowd silent in anticipation. But as it reached the rim, it clanged off the iron, missing the mark. The Feng Foxes quickly grabbed the rebound.

Kai gritted his teeth. He didn't want the Feng Foxes to take the first point of the quarter.

However, Chunlei and Yiming tag-teamed him once more after passing the ball to Zeren.

"Zeren, a past Dog, has the ball!" Mark exclaimed. "I wonder how the Shizi Dogs feel seeing their past teammate against them and not with them."

Zeren smiled as he threw the ball from the three-point line.

"He's going to make it!" Andy exclaimed from the bench, already predicting the trajectory of the ball. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

And he does.

49-44.

At that point, there seemed to be a shift in the momentum.

The Feng Foxes smirked, and the players on the bench also felt their confidence surge.

Just then, Zeren's words repeated in their minds.

"Kai is still the same."

"He's gotten better in most aspects, but even then, he's not a perfect player."

"He can't shoot from the three-point line."

"So, keep him out of the paint, and we'll have the game to ourselves."