Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

[Gamble the game?]

Kai looked at the message and immediately nodded. The entire game was already a gamble. Might as well add more to it!

The whistle echoed across the court, and the game began.

The thud of the ball hitting the floor echoed through the silent crowd. Japan's point guard, Saito Ren, immediately snatched the ball.

He was known for his agility and court vision—The Precision Point, as people called him.

"Here comes Saito Ren," Gina announced, her voice brightening up as she leaned forward in her seat. "He's their key playmaker. Watch how quickly he pivots."

Ren darted past Dong. He pushed into the paint before dishing a perfect no-look pass to his teammate, Hideo Kenji, who was waiting just beyond the arc. Kenji shot it with flawless form.

"Kenji for three!" David called out.

The ball swished through the net. The crowd gave a small but audible cheer, and just like that, Japan took the first points of the game.

0-2.

But China wasn't shaken.

Marcus caught the inbound pass and stormed down the court. His movements were heavy. He passed to Dong, who barreled through Japan's center, Kuroda Takeo. Takeo pushed back, arms up, but Dong's strength drove the ball into the hoop with a hard layup.

"Dong with the finish!" Gina exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise. "It's not often someone powers through Takeo like that."

2-2.

"Well, Dong is the biggest among our Chinese players," David commented.

The veterans were fired up.

For the first time in a long while, they played like men who had something to prove. They matched Japan's pace, refusing to let them control the tempo.

Kuroda Takeo worked the paint ferociously, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. His size made him a wall beneath the basket. Yet Marcus didn't back down. Twice, he went head-to-head with Takeo, his sweat-slicked face twisting with determination as he fought for second-chance points.

"Marcus isn't afraid to take him on," David said with growing excitement. "This might be the most physical game we've seen from China in all tournaments."

Meanwhile, Jaw-Long controlled the flow of China's offense. His confidence was infectious.

He set up plays, threading passes to teammates who cut into gaps in Japan's tight defense. It was scrappy and chaotic, but it was working.

On Japan's side, Ren orchestrated their plays like a maestro, feeding Kenji and Takeo relentlessly. However, China's defense tightened up, and even Kenji's cleanest shots were contested.

The two teams scruffled hard for control. Every rebound turned into a battle. Elbows flew, bodies collided, sneakers squeaked as players dove for loose balls.

At one point, Caleb snatched a steal off Ren, sprinting down the court for a fast break. The Japanese defender, Hideo Kenji, was right behind him, but Caleb powered through, his layup banking perfectly off the glass.

The crowd erupted.

Even the commentators were shocked at how much fight China was showing.

"This is...unexpected," Gina admitted, sounding genuinely thrilled. "Both teams are giving it everything. The veterans of China are playing like possessed men!"

David laughed, shaking his head. "I think we all underestimated them, Gina. They look like a completely different team today."

Coach Xu Wei stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, watching the veterans with narrowed eyes.

He had never seen them so fired up. 'They don't want to lose,' he thought. Not to Japan…and especially not to the younger players waiting on the bench.

The game continued at a blistering pace. Every point was answered with another.

Japan would hit a mid-range jumper, and China would respond with a contested layup. By the end of the first quarter, the score was nearly even—23-21, with Japan barely in the lead.

The veterans jogged back to the bench, sweat dripping down their faces, but their eyes were alight with something that had been missing for a long time—pride.

Xu Wei met them at the sideline. "Keep it up," he said simply, though there was the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "I like what I'm seeing so far. Let's see if you can keep it that way."

The veterans didn't need any more motivation than that. They nodded, their breathing heavy.

Meanwhile, Kai sat at the far end of the bench, watching. He could see Coach Xu Wei glance in his direction, a smirk playing on his lips.

Max leaned in close to Kai, whispering, "You see that? Does he think we're going to lose? It looks like he's not going to guide both teams."

Kai didn't take his eyes off the court. "I don't know," he honestly answered.

Max frowned but said nothing more, leaning back as the players prepared for the second quarter.

The Japanese team regrouped, their coach barking quick instructions.

Saito Ren tightened his ponytail, his sharp eyes scanning the court. Kuroda Takeo cracked his knuckles, his massive frame casting a shadow over his teammates. Even Kenji, who had been shooting confidently, looked wary.

"They're better than we thought," Ren muttered under his breath as they walked back onto the court.

Takeo grunted in agreement. "They're fighting harder than they've shown all tournament. It won't last."

Back on the Chinese bench, Coach Xu Wei gave a nod to his starters.

The second quarter began, and Japan came out aggressive. Kuroda Takeo took over the paint, muscling his way under the basket for two quick points.

China responded immediately. Caleb directed a screen for Dong, who slipped past Takeo and converted a hard-earned layup. The back-and-forth continued, the lead shifting like a pendulum.

Kai leaned forward on the bench, watching intently as Japan slowly started to pull ahead.

"If they continue playing like this…," he muttered.

Japan's precise passes and clean rotations were giving them a slight edge. By the time the buzzer sounded to end the first half, the scoreboard read:

Japan 52, China 48.

The crowd murmured in surprise. The game was far closer than anyone had anticipated.

The Chinese veterans walked off the court with cocky grins and smug energy. Muyang wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing back at the scoreboard with satisfaction.

"Forty-eight points," Dong muttered, chuckling to himself. "Not bad for a bunch of 'has-beens.'"

Coach Xu Wei didn't say anything as they returned to the bench, but his small, approving nod was enough. For the first time in a long time, the veterans had looked alive.

On the far end of the bench, Kai watched them with sharp eyes. His fingers drummed against his knee.

The veterans had proven themselves. Forty-eight points in a half was no small feat.

But now, it was their turn.