Chapter 147 - Final-Day Game; Part 3 (1/2)

The first half of the game ended, and it was time for Shun to switch teams.

He switched benches and rested for the ten minutes break with the Team Ming.

Ming stood from his seat and faced the members.

Ming: ”Okay, about the starting five for the third quarter, we should let Antony rest for this one, and in the last quarter, I would step out and let you guys handle it.”

Seeing no opposition from the team, Ming nodded and turned to Shun.

Ming: ”Shun, you and I will be on passing duty for this quarter. Both you and I will be using every play we know to guide the other three.

Ivan can play from anywhere, Carlos will play from mid-range and inside that, and Roger will play in the post.

We have all the options we need. We simply need to make sure to make plays that will facilitate them properly.”

Shun nodded and replied.

Shun: ”Let's score some and then score some more.”

Both teams walked back to the court, and the ball was once again with Team Leonal.

Leonal was playing as the point guard and just as he passed the half-court line, and took a few steps in. He was met by Shun, who was waiting to defend him.

Leonal and Shun watched each other. The sense of sight was the one thing that stimulated their reflexive action the most, so they watched each other waiting for the other to make a move.

Finally, the first one to move was Leonal, he did a small lean to the left, and immediately Shun reacted and got ready to defend against a drive.

But Leonal, who had leaned to the left, moved to the right. And, Shun's body reacted with a jolt as he moved to the right to cut off his path.

Leonal's reflexes also got to work as he immediately pulled back and threw the ball in an overhead pass to a player behind Shun.

Shun wasn't done just yet, as he jumped towards the ball with all his might.

Shun: ”Not so easily!”

One of Shun's fingers touched the ball. And, the pass course that Leonal had intended for the ball to follow changed.

Carlos: ”Free ball!”

The moment Shun got to the ground, he turned and chased after the ball.

He reached the ball and had just touched the ball when Rafael lunged at the ball and tried to grab the ball.

Shun: ”Huh?!”

Shun and Rafael grabbed the ball at the same time and tried to snatch the ball from the other.

Albert, who was the referee, blew his whistle and said out loud.

Albert: ”Jump Ball!”

Rafael and Shun looked at Albert, and Rafael let go of the ball, and Shun passed the ball to Albert for the Jump Ball.

-*-*-*-

A jump ball was simply a tip-off. It was initiated mid-game when, for some reason, the possession of the ball couldn't be decided.

The participants of the jump ball were Shun and Rafael, as they were the ones who had tried to get the ball.

Both of them got into position with the other members surrounding them. Albert threw the ball up and let the two jump for it.

Rafael got to the ball first, but when he tipped the ball towards Leonal, Shun once again got a hand on the ball it changed its direction to Carlos, who caught it and ran to the basket.

Shun smiled when he saw the ball go to Carlos and shouted.

Shun: ”Score!”

The surprise of the fast-break was almost immediately erased when Bruno caught up with Carlos at the top of the key.

Carlos had a small smile on his face. He kept an eye on Bruno, and the moment they stepped into the paint, Carlos dribbled the ball from his left to right hand, jumped at the same time, and hooked the ball into the basket in one single continuous movement.

The motion of the move so smooth that Bruno wasn't able to react to it. And, Carlos ended up scoring with the help of his excellent ball-handling skills.

-*-*-*-

In Team Ming's possession, Ming and Shun got to work as twin point guards, to move the ball around the defenses of Team Leonal.

Ming passed the ball from the outside, near the baseline to Carlos, who threw it away to the mid-range.

Shun, who was at the mid-range, caught the ball and dribbled inside.

Douglas came to guard Shun, but Shun threw him off balance with two jab-steps and immediately shot the ball with Douglas still off-balance.

Shun glanced at Douglas and smiled.

Shun: ”Be careful, big man, or next time you just might fall.”

Douglas grinned and replied.

Douglas: ”You sure have a mouth on you, don't you?”

Shun shrugged with a smile and responded.

Shun: ”What can I say, it is one of my charms.”

Shun was near the top of the key, with Rafael staying close to him.

He wasn't able to move much with Rafael locking him down.

So, to get out of this situation, he scanned the court, and a smile emerged on his face.

Shun passed the ball to the left behind him in a no-look bounce pass, and the moment Rafael's eyes followed after the ball, Shun ducked under Rafael's arms and ran towards the basket.

Near the ball, Ming appeared to catch the no-look pass, and while running along the three-point arc, he passed the ball back to Shun, who was near the free-throw line.

Shun caught the ball, and from the free-throw line, he threw the ball at the basket.

Leonal, who looked at that, frowned.

Leonal: ”Why didn't he shoot?”

He got his answer when the center of the Team Ming jumped for the ball.

Shun pumped his arms up and said loudly.

Shun: ”Oh, yeah!”

Shun smiled as he thought.