Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The morning sun felt nice against Kai's skin as he drove through the narrow streets on his worn-out bike. The basket attached to the front still smelled like onions as he pedaled briskly to his small home.

It was a routine he had followed for as long as he could remember. However, today was the last delivery he'd make before leaving for Beijing, and he felt excited, to say the least.

As he pulled up in front of their house, Kai hopped off his bike and grabbed the sack. Grandma Bingbing was already in the kitchen, her small, wiry frame moving quickly as she prepared some snacks.

"Ah, there you are, Kai," she clicked her tongue. "You took so long."

"You're as harsh and critical as every old woman," Kai chuckled, earning him a glare from his grandmother. "Aren't you going to miss me?"

"You're going to make me miss you, boy—your deliveries, that is. Who's going to help this old woman while you're off playing basketball?"

Kai chuckled. "Just say that you'll miss me, Grandma. I'll be back before you know it. Just two weeks, maybe a little more if we make it far."

Just then, Kai entered his room and changed into his jersey, his school bag propped on his shoulder.

Grandma Bingbing frowned as he made his way outside.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To school," Kai smiled.

"Why do you still need to go to school today? You're already going away tomorrow. Shouldn't you be resting?"

Kai shook his head. "I finished the deliveries, so I have to go. We're getting the brackets today, and I don't want to miss that."@@novelbin@@

Grandma Bingbing sighed but didn't argue further.

"Here," she said, giving him some packed snacks. Kai's smile widened as he placed them inside his bag.

With that, he sprinted off, his legs pumping as he ran toward the school. As he sped by the Richgate community, the guard at the entrance barely had time to react before Kai was already gone.

"Was that a car or a person?" the guard muttered to himself, blinking in surprise as he watched Kai's retreating figure.

"That boy's so fast now."

By the time Kai reached the school gates, he was out of breath but exhilarated. He knew he was late, with the deliveries had taken longer than expected. He didn't slow down until he reached the gymnasium, where the rest of his teammates were already gathered.

He opened the door and saw that the entire team was present, along with Coach Muchen, who stood off to the side. Even Shang, who had been unofficially dubbed the team's assistant manager thanks to Lina's assistance, was there.

Of course, Shang didn't complain. Now, he could go with the rest of the team to Beijing!

"What the heck? You took so long, man! Lina doesn't want to start without you," Jet complained when he saw Kai at the doorway.

"Sorry," he apologized before going to sit on the floor.

"It's alright," Lina said. "I'm still setting up the projector."

Once everyone was settled, Lina stepped forward, appearing more serious than ever. "Alright, everyone, let's get started. I'm sure all of you have an idea about the rules of the Nationals, but I'm going to go over everything again. After all, we're all beginners when it comes to the Nationals."

The team nodded, listening intently.

"So, this year is a little different," Lina began. "After they changed the rules, there are more teams competing, so that is to be expected."

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"This year, there are 54 teams competing."

"Damn," Jinping said. "That really is so much."

The others sighed in agreement, feeling like getting the first place was going to be a tough journey.

"We'll be split into four brackets—two with 14 teams and two with 13. It's a big change from the usual two brackets we've seen in the past," Lina continued.

"For the preliminary rounds," Lina said, "each team will play seven matches. These matches are crucial because they determine our standing. Wins and losses will be tallied, and those with the most wins will advance to the higher ranks. The top four teams from each bracket will move on to the quarter-finals."

"I guess seven games isn't too bad," Kai muttered.

Andy turned to him with wide eyes. "You're insane! That means will have a game every day of the week!"

Kai looked at Andy as if he stood by his original statement.

"Yeah, not that bad," Kai smiled.

Andy pursed his lips and shook his head. "I forgot you were a monster for a second."

"In the event that two teams have the same score," Lina added, "they'll tally the points scored in each game. So it's important to not just win, but to win big."

Kai nodded, his brows furrowing with the realization that every point would matter—a single basket could be the difference between advancing or going home.

"Once we reach the top 16," Lina said, her voice growing more serious, "it's single elimination. Knock-out rounds. They'll rank us again based on the previous results. The top team will face the 16th, the second will face the 15th, and so on. It's going to be tough, especially for those in the lower ranks."

"The top eight teams will then be divided into two groups," Lina explained. "The top four on one side, and the next four on the other. Again, it's single elimination. That will determine the top four teams in the tournament."

"And lastly, the top four would have matches based on draw lots."

"One loss, and you're out."

Lina pursed her lips when she realized how high the stakes really were. Getting to that point felt like a dream at that moment.

"The top two will battle it out in one game—just a single one."

"That single game will then determine who will be hailed as the winner—the champion of the Nationals."

The room was silent as Lina's words lingered in their minds.

Kai looked down at his calloused hands and frowned.

The reality of the brutal ranking system sank in.

Looking at it now, the system was designed to favor the strong...the best of the best.