The boost a Silver Grade Badge gave Sun Hao could be seen from Basketball IQ and Long-Range Sharpshooter.
In other words, with this Badge, his Ultra-long Three-pointer could become a regular weapon even in La Liga!
Sun Hao's Ultra-long Three-pointer before halftime greatly lifted Real Madrid Team's morale.
After halftime, Real Madrid Team rode the momentum and opened with an 8-0 run, directly forcing Virtus Bologna to call timeout.
During that run, Sun Hao hit another three-pointer.
Including the ones from the first half, he had already made four Three-pointers and scored 14 points.
That had become a new UEFA Champions League record for players under 18.
And the second half had only just begun.
After the timeout, Virtus Bologna made a substitution, sending Ginobili back onto the court.
But unlike the substitutions in the first half, Ginobili had not replaced Danilovic. Virtus Bologna had deployed a Dual Shooting Guard Lineup.
The substitution was unusual, yet it inexplicably excited the fans in attendance.
Real Madrid Team used a Dual Point Guard Lineup, so they would use a Dual Shooting Guard Lineup!
Ginobili attacked with the ball, using the center's screen to continue driving to the basket with a Euro Step.
But after one half of play, Real Madrid Team had begun adapting to his drives and sent help early.
And at that moment, something unexpected happened.
Before the double-team could form, Ginobili delivered a behind-the-back pass to Danilovic, who was cutting toward the corner.
Double-teams tested a player's ability to handle the ball. Not only had Ginobili passed it out, he had done it in such a flashy way!
Danilovic caught the ball and shot.
Swish!
He had finally gotten on the board!
Cheers erupted from the crowd once again.
For Danilovic, and even more so for Ginobili.
Who said Shooting Guards could not organize an offense?
They had found a treasure!
Laso was stunned as well.
He looked at Sun Hao, then Ginobili, then Ginobili, then Sun Hao.
One was a Point Guard responsible for scoring, while the other was a Shooting Guard responsible for organizing.
Two monsters on the court...
Ginobili tightly guarded Sun Hao in the frontcourt, defending him beyond the Three-point line.
The ball went to Prigioni, who set up the offense, but unfortunately Gabajosa failed to convert.
Virtus Bologna secured the rebound. In the half-court offense, Ginobili gave up the ball and cut back out for a three-pointer, but his shot was clearly short.
Compared to his drives and passing, his Set shot ability really was not much at the moment.
But Virtus Bologna grabbed the Long Rebound, and the ball went back to Danilovic, who rose for a contested three-pointer.
Swish!
It went in again!
After all, he was an established star. After adjusting at halftime, he had found his touch again!
Virtus Bologna answered with a 6-0 run!
The fans' emotions now reached their peak, just like their swaying bodies.
Ginobili and Danilovic could play together, and they fit together surprisingly well.
The game fell into a deadlock once again.
Real Madrid Team built several advantages, only for Virtus Bologna to catch up each time. Their resilience was completely unlike the temperament of Italy as a country.
Just as Spaniards would never be late or absent for a bullfight, they were not soft at all when it came to basketball.
In the blink of an eye, the game entered its final minute.
Real Madrid Team and Virtus Bologna were tied at 70!
Virtus Bologna had possession.
The ball was in Ginobili's hands.
After this game, probably no one would wonder why Ginobili had chosen Virtus Bologna.
His position overlapped with Danilovic's, but their styles not only did not clash, they complemented each other!
Danilovic moved on the weak side. Ginobili drove straight past Prigioni and, upon reaching the free throw line, passed left.
Prigioni interfered with his left hand.
But Ginobili gathered the ball, changed direction, and took a long stride.
Another Euro Step!
That move of his was nearly impossible to stop!
Gabajosa rotated over to help at the basket and went for the block as Ginobili released the shot.
He had read the play perfectly.
Ginobili glided dramatically through the air for a floater.
Slap!
Gabajosa's block struck Ginobili's hand.
The referee blew the whistle.
A shooting foul!
Though the shot did not go in, Ginobili displayed his incredible flexibility and earned two free throws.
Astonishing talent!
With the game on the line, the arena gradually quieted.
Ginobili adjusted his breathing.
The fans could hear their own hearts pounding.
For the first UEFA Champions League game to be this thrilling, it would be strange if the league were not popular.
Ginobili took his first free throw.
Clang!
He missed!
A restless stir swept through the arena.
The pressure of this game was simply too great!
If Ginobili had not played so brilliantly tonight, many people would have forgotten that he was only 22 years old.
Ginobili took his second free throw.
He adjusted his breathing and swayed his hips from side to side.
Swish!
He made the second free throw.
Virtus Bologna led 71-70!
Real Madrid Team called timeout.
After the timeout, Real Madrid Team ran a High Double Screen.
Prigioni drove into the paint.
His breakthrough did not have as many variations as Ginobili's, but he was nimble.
After successfully drawing help defense from inside, he saw the floor clearly and made a short pass to Gabajosa.
A beautiful pass.
And the idea behind it was very clear: attack the basket, take two points, and regain the lead.
But perhaps because the space under the basket was too cramped, Gabajosa failed to secure the ball at first.
By the time he controlled it, Virtus Bologna's big men had recovered. His post hook was contested, and the basketball bounced off the rim!
Virtus Bologna's center slapped the ball out of bounds.
Real Madrid Team's offense had been disrupted!
And they had no timeouts left.
Laso looked up at the clock. There were 15 seconds left, while Real Madrid Team had 10 seconds on the shot clock.
With no timeout, they could only rely on the players themselves.
Sun Hao pulled Prigioni aside and whispered to him for a moment.
Real Madrid Team inbounded the ball, and Prigioni held it at the top of the key, directing the offense.
Sun Hao cut in and out, using Gabajosa's screen to run to the right Three-point line.
Prigioni delivered a lead pass.
The pass was beautiful, but Ginobili navigated the screen even better. With a serpentine route, he actually evaded it.
But Sun Hao did not wait for the pass. Instead, he actively ran toward the incoming ball.
Sun Hao and Ginobili were competing in Basketball IQ!
Sun Hao's proactive move to receive the ball created separation between him and Ginobili, but it also pushed his receiving position farther out.
It had originally been at the Three-point line, but now it was a meter beyond it.
He caught the ball and shot immediately. Ginobili had no time to close out.
The audience suddenly held its breath.
From that distance... Sun Hao had already made one. The possibility of a second...
Swish!
Before they could finish the thought, a crisp sound rang through the speakers.
Sun Hao had made his second Ultra-long Three-pointer of the game!
The power of Silver Grade unlimited range!
The fans in the arena were dumbfounded.
They had truly never seen anyone play basketball like Sun Hao before!
And only after seeing it did they realize that basketball could be played this way!
"The Napoleon of China is unstoppable tonight!"
Even the commentator could not help but exclaim.
73-71!
Real Madrid Team had taken a two-point lead!
One possession would decide the game!
The final six seconds!
Virtus Bologna called timeout!
It was also the last timeout of the game!
This time, the fans could not merely hear their heartbeats; they could feel their hearts about to leap out of their chests.
This game was so intense that it left people unable to breathe.
After the timeout, Virtus Bologna had the ball in the frontcourt.
Ginobili ran over to receive the Inbound Pass, but it turned out to be a decoy, and the ball was inbounded to Danilovic.
Danilovic used the center's screen to drive inside!
Virtus Bologna's coach had pulled out an unexpected move in the final moments.
And the play had indeed worked!
Danilovic, who was not known for his breakthrough, drove the ball to the free throw line.
Virtus Bologna was going for two points to force Overtime!
Playing at home, Overtime would favor them more!
Laso had no time to remind them, but Gabajosa showed his defensive strength on this play.
He took long strides in retreat, extending his arm to successfully cut off Danilovic's shooting angle!
Danilovic, after all, was not known for his breakthrough.
With no shooting angle, Danilovic could only flick towards the corner in midair.
That was Ginobili's landing spot.
Forcing the ball into the hands of a player who was not good at shooting meant Real Madrid Team's defense had already succeeded halfway.
And the quality of the pass was quite poor as well. Ginobili had to lunge forward to catch it.
When he got the ball, only two seconds remained. He pulled himself back and took a near-buzzer-beating shot.
Making a player who was not good at shooting attempt such a difficult shot meant Real Madrid Team's defense had succeeded eight or nine times out of ten!
Some fans covered their faces, too afraid to watch.
Virtus Bologna's final offensive play had been designed successfully, but judging from the result, it might not have been a good choice.
On the rushed shot, Ginobili's trajectory looked slightly inward.
Clang!
The ball struck the back rim of the basket and bounced high into the air.
Then it fell.
Clang!
The ball struck the inside of the front rim again.
Then a third time.
A fourth time.
The basketball became a ping-pong ball, dancing a tap dance on the rim.
After the final note fell, the ball dropped through the net.
Ginobili, with a bit of luck, sank the final game-winning shot!
Virtus Bologna claimed the final victory!
Cheers suddenly erupted from the crowd.
Ginobili, the magical kid who had just joined the team, not only scored a team-high 17 points that night, but also delivered the final game-winner.
He was quickly swallowed up by his teammates.
Sun Hao glanced at the score on the scoreboard and shook his head with a smile.
No one could defend against a miracle shot like that!
PS: One more chapter to come.
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