Chapter 2: North Carolina's Flaw? Wang Song Steps In!

Wang Song's entrance onto the court immediately stirred the crowd.

Exclamations erupted from the North Carolina fans.

"Oh shit, is this Asian big guy, number 9, here to be a benchwarmer?"

"He looks soft. Herb Sendek must be crazy to play him in overtime."

"No wonder the Wolfpack has been declining every year; they have no one else to play!"

"Wang? Sorry, the only one I know is Yao!"

"If I'm not mistaken, his name is Wang Song, and he's just a freshman, right?"

"I barely saw him play during the regular season, and if he did, it must have been garbage time. This is the Elite Eight! What is Herb Sendek thinking?"

On the other side of the stands, the California Golden Bears' supporters couldn't hide their amusement at Wang Song's appearance.

"Haha, North Carolina is desperate! They've put in an untested Asian kid."

"He's tall, but with that build, he must be slow and unathletic. Slow feet are a hallmark of these Asian centers."

"He looks weak; Tamir will destroy him. Tamir is our best hope for an NBA career. Handling this benchwarmer will be a piece of cake."

...

As the crowd buzzed with conversation, the whistle blew, signaling the game's resumption.

Herb Sendek focused intently on Wang Song. The sweat on his palms revealed his tension. He was ready to call a timeout at the first sign of trouble. In the single-elimination format of March Madness, no one could afford to make a mistake.

Standing beside him, assistant coach Jim, who had suggested playing Wang Song, watched the number 9 intently.

3 minutes and 43 seconds left!

80:85!

The North Carolina Wolfpack trailed by five points.

As the Wolfpack inbounded the ball, the timer began to tick down.

Wang Song's mind recalled the coach's drills from practice. He set a screen for the corner teammate, feigned a roll to the basket, then quickly popped out to the high post to screen for Julius Hodge at the top of the arc.

Despite Wang Song's slender frame, his body was strong, thanks to a year of focused strength training.

Hidden strength was still strength.

Combined with his 99 athleticism attribute, Wang Song moved nimbly on the court, surprising for someone 213 cm tall.

While the Golden Bears' defenders were stunned by the big man's agility and screen quality, Julius Hodge used the pick to drive inside and score on a layup.

"Well done, Wang!"

As they returned on defense, Hodge gave Wang Song a high-five, his gaze softening with respect. Though they hadn't played much together, this play felt unexpectedly natural.

Wang Song's screen was better than his usual partner, Josh's.

His elusive movements and consecutive screens made him slip through defenses like a dragon, hard to pin down.

Not only his teammates but even the coaching staff were impressed by Wang Song's performance in this play.

Assistant coach Jim beamed with pride, and Herb Sendek nodded in approval.

...

[Successfully screened for a teammate's score, steady experience points +50]

While everyone marveled at Wang Song's performance, a notification flashed in his mind, making his eyes light up.

This high-quality screen not only helped the team score but also earned him 50 experience points.

This was a new discovery, much more than what he got from practice games and individual training.

Was this the charm of the elimination rounds in March Madness?

Before he could fully appreciate the experience points, the Golden Bears' offense surged forward.

Possibly frustrated by the last defensive breakdown, the Golden Bears decided to pound the ball inside again, targeting what seemed to be the Wolfpack's weak link.

They were eager to exploit Wang Song, expecting to break through North Carolina's defense and score easily.

Bang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed in the noisy arena as the two seven-footers clashed in the paint.

The heavy thud made the crowd hold their breath.

Amit Tamir, the Golden Bears' center, was backing down Wang Song. This 260-pound NCAA heavyweight faced a rare defeat in his college career.

Facing the seemingly skinny Wang Song, his initial attempts gained no ground.

Tamir's face showed disbelief.

Refusing to concede, he exerted more force on the next back-down move.

Bang!

With a grunt of effort, Tamir found Wang Song unmoved, as if rooted to the floorboards.

When Tamir tried again, the resistance suddenly vanished.

Tamir, not known for great balance, lost his footing with the sudden absence of resistance, falling flat, the ball rolling out of bounds.

The whistle blew for a turnover!

"FUCK!"

Tamir, helped up by his teammates, wore a look of frustration.

[Steady defensive strategy, successfully forced a turnover, experience points +100]

As Wang Song prepared to inbound the ball, he smiled at the notification in his mind.

This had become his habitual training style, paying off steadily over time.

Now, Wang Song's athleticism and interior defense were unparalleled, but choosing the most effective play style was key to his growth.

This successful defense lit a fire in the arena's MC.

A fan of Michael Jordan, the MC had naturally supported North Carolina but had been silent as they struggled in overtime.

He almost forgot his main duty today.

"WANG!!! SONG!!!"

With explosive fervor, he shouted Wang Song's name, his voice raw with excitement.

"It's hard to believe this young man is not even 20. His timing on offense and defensive judgment are so precise."

"His seemingly weak frame hides impressive strength. He reminds me of Yao Ming when he first joined the NBA."

---

Gimme some power stones 💪