Promotion to the Starting Lineup

The substitute players knew their own strength better than anyone. Could adding just one Chi Tong really bring such a huge change to the team?

The basketball bounced up, then fell into the hands of the substitute power forward.

Another brilliant pass from Chi Tong.

Damn it! Kirihara Sunren sensed something was wrong and immediately moved to block it, but he was still a step too late. The substitute power forward raised the ball and shot it at the hoop.

The ball swished through the net.

Damn it!

Ito Hongshu felt utterly frustrated. No matter how he defended, he had no way to stop Chi Tong's passes.

On the Red Team's next attack, Chi Tong deliberately began directing his teammates' movements.

Without anyone noticing, Chi Tong had already become the Red Team's spiritual pillar.

Coach Nakamura's eyes flickered when he noticed this, and a few thoughts formed in his mind.

He had discovered another one of Chi Tong's strengths: his exceptional organizational ability. With such a high basketball IQ and such uncanny passing, he was absolutely starting-player material.

Just imagining Chi Tong and Sendoh working together on the court made his heart surge with excitement for no reason.

On the court, Chi Tong dribbled to the White Team's three-point line. This time, Sendoh was guarding him again.

Sendoh stared intently at Chi Tong, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Unlike Sento's anticipation, Chi Tong remained calm and composed.

One attacked and the other defended, neither giving an inch. For a moment, they were locked in a standoff.

The next instant, Chi Tong moved. He dribbled toward the right.

Sendoh's eyes remained fixed on the ball's movement.

A pass?

Or a feint?

Sendoh guessed inwardly, but every muscle in his body had already tensed. The moment anything seemed off, he would make his move.

Suddenly, Chi Tong's hand moving to the right made a sharp crossover, flashing to the left.

Sendoh caught the movement immediately, his gaze following it without blinking.

Not far from them, Koichi Kobayashi quietly closed in, preparing to help Sento steal the ball from Chi Tong.

But at that very moment, Chi Tong's hand moving the ball left suddenly stopped.

Just as Sento thought Chi Tong was about to change directions again, something completely unexpected happened.

Chi Tong suddenly took a step back, widening the distance between himself and Sendoh. At the same time, he deftly passed the basketball from his hand.

The ball slipped between Sendoh and Koichi Kobayashi, struck the floor, and reached the substitute center standing in the White Team's paint.

Not good! Sendoh and Koichi Kobayashi's hearts both jolted. The passing angle was incredibly tricky, and the timing was maddeningly precise. Sendoh had been completely focused, yet Chi Tong had still found an opening to pass. The substitute center caught Chi Tong's pass, jumped straight up, and banked it in. As the seconds ticked by, Chi Tong delivered one pinpoint pass after another, leaving everyone wide-eyed and shouting, "Holy crap!"

The match soon reached its final moments. The score was 38:38, and possession was now with the White Team. Kirihara Sunren did not hesitate, passing the ball directly to Sendoh, the strongest player on the team.

When Sendoh charged into the Red Team's half with the ball, a figure blocked his path. It was Chi Tong.

It was the end of the game, and this ball was crucial. Sento dribbled without rushing to break through, instead observing the situation around the court. He was confident that he could break through Chi Tong's defense directly, but just as he prepared to make his next move, a crisp sound froze Sendoh in place.

To the onlookers, Chi Tong's outstretched hand had directly poked the basketball from Sendoh's grasp. Everyone was stunned. Sendoh had actually been stripped?

How was that possible? They all knew Sendoh's ability. He was one of the best players in the country, yet he had been stripped so cleanly by Chi Tong.

Chi Tong's expression remained blank. The instant he stole the ball from Sendoh, he accelerated toward the White Team's basket with the ball.

For most of the game, he had served as a passer. This was the first time he had used his 100% Steal ability in this match. After honing this move for three years in elementary school, he could not truly achieve 100%, but a success rate above 50% was still possible.

A fifty percent steal rate was already a terrifying statistic.

Chi Tong raced ahead with the ball while Sendoh, having snapped back to his senses, pursued closely behind. One in front and one behind, they streaked across the court like red and white flashes.

Chi Tong quickly reached the paint and prepared for a layup.

Sensing the rapidly closing danger behind him, Chi Tong abruptly changed his layup motion and hurled the basketball forcefully at the backboard. The ball struck the board, then rebounded diagonally outward.

Sendoh's eyes widened at the sight. He did not understand, but he soon did. The rebounding ball fell directly into the hands of the substitute small forward, who had arrived just in time.

Not good! The White Team all cried out inwardly. They had not expected the ball could be passed like this. Kirie Sondo quickened his pace and rushed toward the substitute small forward.

After catching the ball, perhaps not expecting to be the one taking the final shot, the substitute small forward planted his foot, leaped up, and tossed the ball toward the hoop.

Perhaps because he was too excited, he put too much force into the shot. The ball struck the backboard and flew straight beyond the basket.

At that moment, the buzzer sounded.

The practice match was over. White Team 38:38 Red Team. The two sides finished in a draw.

Seeing the score, the substitutes erupted into excited cheers, while the starting players were somewhat dazed. They, the regular players, had actually tied with the substitutes. Before this, any one of them could have crushed any substitute player, but today, the substitutes had displayed strength capable of going head-to-head with the starters. It had completely exceeded everyone's expectations.

Sento walked up to Chi Tong, extended a hand, and said, "That was a great game. Let's play again when we get the chance."

Chi Tong reached out and shook his hand. "I'll be counting on your guidance from now on."

Kirihara Sunren also came before Chi Tong. He looked at Chi Tong with delighted surprise. "I never thought you were this good. We'll definitely go farther in this tournament."

Everyone chimed in, offering Chi Tong praise and expectations.

Only Ito Hongshu's expression was incredibly complicated. He could clearly feel that the gap between his strength and Chi Tong's was far more than slight. Before Chi Tong, he was as immature as a baby, completely unable to resist.

In the Basketball Club, strength was everything. Chi Tong was stronger than him, which meant he could no longer keep his starting position.

Sure enough, the next day, the coach announced that Chi Tong had become an official starter on the team, directly replacing Ito Hongshu as point guard.

The days passed one after another. Ever since Chi Tong joined the Basketball Club, the entire club had seemed to transform.