Chapter 148 - Final-Day Game; Part-Four (1/2)

Ivan Petrovic hailed from Serbia. The country that year after year would produce basketball big men to the world, and in almost any international basketball tournament, Team Serbia would have the tallest team average height.

Ivan was a short player for his country, and he had played against tall players his entire basketball career.

He didn't have the height the match his peers in his homeland, so he needed another way to surpass his peers.

The only path that left to him was polishing his skill.

He started with a shooting guard skill set, an outside shooter, who would drop three-pointers.

Little by little, he became good at shooting and was able to score and become a genuine contributor and an asset to the team.

But, Ivan wasn't satisfied with just being a shooter, he knew he could do more, so he added a new development path to his playstyle.

Ivan began training rim-finishing skills for shorter players.

In some time, he became able to score over huge Siberian players at the rim, when his height became long enough for him to reach above the rim, he started to dunk.

After Ivan solidified this style of play, he set his eyes on the part of the game that his country dominated.

He began training post-plays, after playing against strong and taller players, his post-plays became more and more skill-oriented.

And, when he stepped on to an international stage, he noticed his post-skills were actually pretty good.

Two years ago, Ivan came to the FIBA summer camp for the first time and got advised to play equally from every area of the court.

So, Ivan switched from a primary shooting guard to a positionless playstyle, and last year, he used his new style to dominate the U19 championship and won it for his country.

Ivan Petrovic was a player that was a product of his circ.u.mstances and his talent for the game.

A spear sharpened through Grit and hard work.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

He walked to Ivan and asked.

Shun: ”Iso-plays against Gilbert, that is what are you looking for, right?”

Ivan glanced at Shun and nodded.

Shun: ”So, it is fine if I just keep getting you the ball when he is near you.”

Ivan once again nodded but also added.

Ivan: ”I don't care how you give me the ball, or where you give me the ball, just make sure to feed me the ball continuously.”

Shun stared at Ivan and replied.

Shun: ”As long as you keep scoring, I will keep giving the ball to you.”

Ivan stared back at Shun, and after a while, left without a word.

Shun: 'I need you to show me how a battle-hardened positionless player plays. You will be the reference that I will use. So, I will get the ball to you, so play to your heart's content.'

-*-*-*-

Shun dribbled the ball on the spot as he looked at Rafael.

He smiled and said.

Shun: ”So, they upped the guard on me, huh.”

Rafael nodded to answer Shun's question.

Shun chuckled in response and spoke.

Shun: ”Well, sorry to say this, but it doesn't really matter because I wouldn't be doing much for a while.”

Rafael furrowed his brows in confusion, but his eyes widened when he saw Shun throw a no-look pass to the dab smack middle to the free-throw line.

Gilbert stepped into his path and jumped to defend Ivan.

Ivan didn't slow down one bit and jumped quite a distance away from the basket.

Gilbert frowned in mid-air as he said.

Gilbert: ”What are you doing?!”

Ivan, who had jumped spun a complete 360-degree, and got past Gilbert in one fast quick spin-motion.

Gilbert turned his head to see Ivan behind him, scooping the ball into the basket while in mid-air in a risky unstable motion.

Gilbert: ”No way! Who the hell plays like that?!”

Ivan got the ground, Shun smiled, and said.

Shun: ”The spotlight would be on him. I will keep the light on him, and it will reveal all his secrets to me.”

Shun dribbled the ball into the inside, with Antony screening for him, and threw a sharp laser-beam pass to the Ivan near the baseline.

Ivan had his back to the basket when he received the ball and Gilbert on his back.