Point Scoring Guard and Scoring Point Guard

Chapter 37: Point Scoring Guard and Scoring Point Guard

The boost Silver Grade badges gave to Sun Hao's ability was clear from Basketball IQ and Long-Range Sharpshooter.

In other words, with this badge, his ultra-long three-pointer could become a regular weapon in La Liga!

Sun Hao's deep three before halftime lifted Real Madrid's morale.

Coming back for the second half, Real Madrid surged, opening with an 8-0 run that forced Virtus Bologna to call a timeout.

During that run, Sun Hao sank another three-pointer.

Counting the first half, he'd already hit four threes and scored 14 points.

That set a new EuroLeague record for players under 18.

And the second half had just begun.

After the timeout, Virtus Bologna made a substitution, bringing Ginobili back on.

But unlike the first-half swap, Ginobili didn't replace Danilovic; Virtus Bologna went with a Dual Shooting Guard lineup.

The substitution was unusual, but it got the crowd oddly excited.

If Real Madrid uses a Dual Point Guard lineup, then we'll use a Dual Shooting Guard lineup!

Ginobili drove with the ball, using the center's screen to Euro Step into the paint.

But after a half of play, Real Madrid had adapted to his drives and sent a double team early.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

Before the double team fully formed, Ginobili threw a behind-the-back pass to Danilovic, who was cutting toward the baseline.

Double teams test a player's ability to handle the ball, and Ginobili not only got the pass out—he did it in such a flashy way!

Danilovic caught and shot.

"Swish!"

He finally scored!

The crowd's cheers erupted again.

For Danilovic, and even more for Ginobili.

Who says a shooting guard can't orchestrate?

They'd struck gold!

Laso stood there stunned.

He looked from Sun Hao to Ginobili, then from Ginobili back to Sun Hao.

A point guard who scores, a shooting guard who orchestrates.

Two freaks on the court...

Sun Hao was hounded by Ginobili on the frontcourt, the latter defending all the way out past the three-point line.

The ball went to Prigioni, who ran a set, but Gabajosa missed the shot.

Virtus Bologna secured the rebound, and in the half-court, Ginobili passed and then cut back for a three-point look, but the shot fell short.

Compared to his driving and passing, his shooting was clearly lacking.

But a long rebound went to Virtus Bologna, and the ball found Danilovic, who fired a contested three.

"Swish!"

Another one in!

He was a proven star; after adjusting at halftime, he'd found his rhythm again!

Virtus Bologna answered with a 6-0 run!

The crowd's emotions, like their swaying bodies, hit a fever pitch.

Ginobili and Danilovic, playing together, somehow clicked perfectly.

The game fell back into a stalemate.

Every time Real Madrid built a lead, Virtus Bologna clawed back, their tenacity completely at odds with Italy's national character.

Just as Spain never misses or arrives late for a bullfight, on the basketball court, they weren't soft at all.

The game raced to the final minute.

Real Madrid and Virtus Bologna were tied at 70!

Virtus Bologna had the ball.

It was in Ginobili's hands.

After this game, no one would question why Ginobili chose Virtus Bologna.

He and Danilovic overlapped in position, but their playstyles didn't clash—they complemented each other!

Danilovic cut from the weak side, and Ginobili drove past Prigioni, reaching the free-throw line before passing left.

Prigioni's left hand was in his face, a nuisance.

But Ginobili gathered the ball, changed direction, and took a long stride.

Another Euro Step!

This move of his was nearly unstoppable!

Under the basket, Gabajosa rotated over to help, reaching for a block as Ginobili released the shot.

He timed it perfectly.

Ginobili launched into a sweeping, floating floater mid-air.

"Smack!"

Gabajosa's block came down on Ginobili's hand.

The referee's whistle blew.

A reaching foul!

The shot didn't fall, but Ginobili had shown off his body control, earning two free throws.

Incredible talent.

With the game on the line, the arena gradually fell silent.

Ginobili steadied his breathing.

The fans in the stands could hear their own hearts pounding.

For the first game of the Euroleague to be this nail-biting, it was no wonder the league was catching fire.

Ginobili's first free throw left his hand.

"Clang!"

No good!

A ripple of unease swept through the crowd.

The pressure of this game was immense!

If not for Ginobili's outstanding performance tonight, many would have forgotten he was only 22 Years Old.

Ginobili's second free throw.

He adjusted his breath, swaying his hips side to side.

"Swish!"

The second shot went in.

Virtus Bologna led 71 to 70!

Real Madrid called a timeout.

After the timeout, Real Madrid ran a high double pick-and-roll.

Prigioni drove to the interior.

His drive wasn't as varied as Ginobili's, but it made up for it with cleverness.

After successfully drawing the interior help defense, he kept his head clear and delivered a short pass to Gabajosa.

A beautiful pass.

And the thinking behind it was clear: attack the basket for two points and take the lead.

But maybe the space under the basket was too tight; Gabajosa fumbled the first catch.

By the time he secured it, Virtus Bologna's big man had already recovered. His post hook shot was contested and clanked off the rim!

Virtus Bologna's center swatted the ball out of bounds.

Real Madrid's offense was broken up!

And they had no timeouts left.

Laso glanced up at the clock. Fifteen seconds left, with ten seconds on Real Madrid's shot clock.

No timeout. It was up to the players now.

Sun Hao pulled Prigioni aside and whispered something in his ear.

Real Madrid's inbound pass came out, and Prigioni held the ball at the top of the key, directing the play.

Sun Hao cut in and out, using Gabajosa's screen to run to the right three-point line.

Prigioni's pass had a touch of anticipation.

It was a crisp pass, but Ginobili's screen navigation was even sharper—a serpentine move that somehow slipped past the pick.

But Sun Hao didn't wait for the pass. Instead, he actively ran toward the incoming ball.

Sun Hao and Ginobili were going head-to-head in Basketball IQ!

By actively stepping into the catch, Sun Hao created a sliver of separation from Ginobili, but his receiving spot also drifted further out.

Originally from three-point range, now a meter beyond the arc.

He caught and shot in one motion, Ginobili couldn't close in time.

The crowd held their 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 came through the loudspeaker.

Sun Hao had sunk his second super-long three of the game!

The power of Silver Grade Unlimited Range!

The fans were stunned.

They'd never seen anyone play like Sun Hao before!

And after seeing it, they realized—this is how basketball could be played!

"The Napoleon of China is unstoppable tonight!"

Even the announcer couldn't help but exclaim.

73 to 71!

Real Madrid had taken a 2-point lead!

One shot decided the game!

Six seconds left!

Virtus Bologna called a timeout!

The last timeout of the game!

This time, the fans could not only hear their hearts beating—they could feel them trying to leap out of their chests.

The game was suffocating.

Out of the timeout, Virtus Bologna's inbound was at the frontcourt.

Ginobili ran over to receive the pass, but it was a fake—the ball went to Danilovic instead.

Danilovic used the center's screen to drive inside!

The Virtus Bologna coach had pulled an unexpected move at the last moment.

And the play worked!

Danilovic, not known for his driving, dribbled into the free-throw line.

Virtus Bologna was going for two points to force overtime!

Playing at home, overtime favored them!

Laso wanted to warn his teammates but it was too late. However, Gabajosa showed his defensive prowess on this play.

He took a big step back and extended his arm, successfully blocking Danilovic's angle!

Danilovic, after all, wasn't known for his driving.

With no angle to shoot, Danilovic had to flick the ball toward the corner in midair.

That was Ginobili's landing spot.

Forcing the ball to a player who wasn't a good shooter—Real Madrid's defense was already half successful.

And the pass quality was mediocre; Ginobili had to lunge forward to catch it.

When he got the ball, only two seconds remained. He pulled back and released a near-buzzer-beater.

Making a poor shooter take such a difficult shot—Real Madrid's defense was ninety percent successful!

Some fans covered their faces, unable to watch.

Virtus Bologna's final play was well-designed, but in hindsight, it might not have been the best choice.

The rushed shot—Ginobili's arc looked a bit off.

"Clang!"

The ball hit the back rim and bounced high.

Then it came down.

"Clang!"

It hit the front rim again.

Then a third time.

A fourth.

The basketball turned into a ping-pong ball, tap-dancing on the rim.

After the last note fell, the ball dropped into the net.

Ginobili, with a touch of luck, sank the final game-winner!

Virtus Bologna had claimed the ultimate victory!

The arena erupted in cheers.

Ginobili, the magical newcomer to the team, had not only contributed a team-high 17 points tonight but also delivered the final dagger.

He was quickly swarmed by his teammates.

Sun Hao glanced at the scoreboard, shook his head, and smiled.

A shot like that—no one could stop it!

ps: One more chapter.