Game-Winner! A New Card!

Randle stood at the sideline, ready to inbound the ball. The pass went cleanly to Aaron, who immediately moved into position. Following the play, Randle set a screen for Jay, who used it to dart toward the opposite corner.

Randle then dropped into the low post, where he received a crisp pass from Aaron. With his back to the basket, Randle began backing down his defender, pushing hard toward the rim.

One bump, two bumps, three bumps—Randle felt he had created enough space and spun for a layup. But just as he went up for the shot, Stauskas, who had been guarding Jay, dashed over to double-team him.

Stauskas had calculated that Jay, visibly fatigued, was unlikely to hit another three. In his mind, it was smarter to leave Jay open than to allow Randle an uncontested shot.

Randle, unaware of the incoming double-team, put up his shot, only to have it contested at the last moment by Stauskas.

Bang!

The ball bounced off the rim, rattling twice.

Michigan's center jumped for the rebound at the first bounce but hesitated mid-air, wary of goaltending. This gave Kentucky's Stern a split-second opportunity to grab the ball on the second bounce, securing the rebound like a scavenger claiming treasure.

Stern immediately protected the ball with both hands and scanned the court for an outlet pass. With Stauskas now in the paint after doubling Randle, Stern couldn't find a clear passing lane to Randle, who was frantically signaling for the ball.

Just then, Stern spotted Jay, wide open beyond the arc at a 30-degree angle—not quite the corner, but not at the 45-degree mark either. Without hesitation, Stern hurled the ball to Jay.

Jay caught the pass and froze for a moment, unsure if this slightly awkward angle was within his range. But with the clock winding down, hesitation wasn't an option.

Jay bent his knees, jumped, and released the ball with a textbook Ray Allen two-motion shooting form.

As he shot, both the Corner Specialist and Catch and Shoot badges lit up.

Swish! Buzz!

The sound of the ball cutting through the net came simultaneously with the game-ending buzzer.

"Game-winner! That's a game-winner! Kentucky's number 5 just hit a game-winning three against Michigan! Who is this kid?! What's his name?! He just sealed the game with an incredible shot!" The commentator was practically shouting, barely able to contain his excitement.

The referees signaled for a review but quickly confirmed the shot—Jay had beaten the clock. It was official.

Jay stood stunned, barely processing the moment before his teammates swarmed him. Head pats, chest bumps, and... "Hey! Cut out the butt-slapping!"

Even Coach Calipari erupted in celebration, shouting in delight. Kentucky had punched their ticket to the Final Four.

The game ended with a score of 84–81. Jay had delivered a stellar performance: 25 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 5 made three-pointers, and 2 steals. While he also had 2 turnovers, they were minor blemishes on an otherwise shining stat line.

While Kentucky celebrated, Michigan's bench remained subdued. Stauskas lingered as the last to leave the court. He glanced at Jay, still surrounded by his teammates, and smirked slightly before muttering to himself, "See you in the NBA."

On the team bus back to campus, Jay couldn't even sit still before pulling up his system interface.

"Congratulations, Host! The Ray Allen template card has been fully integrated. Would you like to begin the next card draw?"

"Yes!" Jay's excitement was barely contained. His trembling hands caught the attention of Randle, who assumed it was leftover adrenaline from the game-winning shot.

"First-time game-winner, huh? Understandable," Randle said with a grin.

"Drawing template card… Success! Congratulations, Host! You've unlocked the Twilight Gary Payton template card. Keep up the great work!"

"Gary Payton?! Hahaha! I'm finally done being everyone's defensive target!" Jay nearly laughed out loud, his smile stretching so wide it seemed his face might split.

Gary Payton, the only point guard in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year, was a legendary defender. His defensive prowess was unmatched.

"Open attribute panel!" Jay commanded eagerly.

Host: Jay Sun

Layup: 61 (65)

Dunk: 51 (54)

Three-Point: 80

Mid-Range: 71 (75)

Dribbling: 62 (75)

Passing: 71 (73)

Perimeter Defense: 63 (80)

Stealing: 51 (70)

Blocking: 36 (37)

Rebounding: 45

Interior Defense: 37 (40)

Height: 195 cm

Wingspan: 203 cm

Dynamic Athletic Ability: C+ (B)

Badges:

Corner Specialist (Silver): Moderate boost to three-point accuracy and stability from the corners.

Catch and Shoot (Bronze): Slight boost to stability and accuracy when shooting immediately after a pass.

New Badges:

Pickpocket (Silver): Moderate increase in steal success rate and reduced fouls.

Clamps (Bronze): Slight boost to defensive pressure and on-ball coverage.

Pick Dodger (Bronze): Slightly improved ability to evade screens.

Defensive Anchor (Bronze): Slight reduction in shooting accuracy for opposing players.

Jay stared at the updated attributes and new badges with the glee of a kid in a candy store.

"Four defensive badges! My defense is finally solid. And most of my stats have improved, too. This Payton template card is perfect for a guard!" Jay muttered to himself.

Inspecting his attribute panel and badge wall gave him a deep sense of satisfaction, like crafting the perfect character in a role-playing game.

Recalling his earlier discovery about hidden potential in template cards, Jay immediately decided to study Gary Payton's game footage. He hoped to uncover more tricks to add to his arsenal.

Initially, Jay wasn't expecting much from the videos—he assumed it would be the same as before. But when he watched a montage of Payton's signature floaters, he felt an uncanny sense of familiarity.

"This feeling… I know this! It's just like with Ray Allen's movement!" Jay exclaimed, realizing the Payton card was already influencing him.

"Looks like my hunch was right. These template cards have untapped potential. Time to dig deeper!" Jay thought, planning to focus on Payton's defensive techniques next.

Lying on his bed after hours of study, Jay stretched out and chuckled to himself. "I wonder if my next opponent is ready for what's coming. Hehehe."