Chapter 29: The Frenzied Female Fan and the Battle for the Final Ticket
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"Welcome, everyone, to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Tonight, we witness the NCAA National Championship Semifinals."
"The starting lineups are in, and I'll now announce the starting players for both teams!"
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### Courtside Commentary
The ESPN announcers began introducing the lineups, bringing their professional expertise and energy to the broadcast.
"For the Texas Longhorns, starting at guard: T.J. Ford...and Brandon Mouton..."
The announcers didn't just recite the players' names—they highlighted the key stars from both teams, setting the tone for the clash ahead.
"And now, introducing the last player from the Texas Longhorns: T.J. FORD—officially recognized by Allen Iverson himself as being even faster than he is!"
The crowd erupted in deafening cheers. Ford, already a household name for his lightning speed since his freshman year, basked in the limelight with a bright smile and a friendly wave.
"And now, for the North Carolina Wolves—the final player to take the stage. He's not just the pride of the team but the pride of the NCAA as the only Asian player in the league. Introducing the powerhouse center: WANG!!! SONG!!!"
The crowd roared once more, but the loudest cheers came from a group of fans in North Carolina blue.
Among them, a female fan went wild. She lifted her jersey to reveal not only her snowy white skin but also a bold tattoo etched on her chest—a single Chinese character: "王" (Wang).
The camera zoomed in, catching the intricate tattoo in all its detail.
The frenzy spread like wildfire, filling the stadium with whistles and cheers.
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### Courtside Reactions
Julius Hodge squinted. "Whoa! That tattoo is...distractingly bright!"
Wang Song rolled his eyes at the teasing. While aware that diehard fans could go to extremes, seeing his own name tattooed so prominently was still a first.
"Crazy fans," Wang muttered, shaking his head. "A guy really has to watch his back out here."
Meanwhile, the Longhorns' bench also noticed the commotion.
"Who does this Asian guy think he is, with fans like that?!" growled James Thomas, their starting center, his face contorted in jealousy.
"Calm down, James. You've got fans, too. Look, there's one over there wearing your jersey. Oh wait...is that your aunt? My bad, your biggest *sisterly* fan," teased T.J. Ford with a grin.
But even as Ford brushed it off lightly, he couldn't resist stealing a glance at the wild fan.
"I'm gonna humiliate this guy!" Thomas fumed, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see if he can handle NCAA basketball. This ain't a playground for bamboo sticks like him!"
Ford chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "James, he's at least 10 centimeters taller than you. Sure you want to poke the bear?"
Thomas flexed his shoulders confidently. "Height doesn't matter. If it did, I wouldn't be the Longhorns' starting center!"
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### The Game Begins
The referee's whistle signaled the start of the match.
At the jump ball circle, Wang Song faced off against James Thomas.
Thomas felt an invisible weight pressing on him just standing across from Wang. That unshakable calm in Wang's demeanor sent shivers down his spine.
*Whap!*
The jump ball was over in an instant. Wang secured it effortlessly, barely needing to leap.
"Did he even jump?" Thomas blinked, unsure if his opponent had moved at all.
Before anyone could react, Wang vanished from sight.
In a flash, he slipped through the Longhorns' defense, cutting straight to the basket. A teammate lobbed the ball high, and Wang caught it midair.
*Boom!*
The rim rattled under the force of his emphatic dunk.
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### Roaring Response
The arena erupted, with North Carolina fans going wild. Their chants drowned out any remnants of the Longhorns' pregame confidence.
Even neutral fans were on their feet, shouting in amazement.
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### The Longhorns Strike Back
"Here comes the Longhorns' counterattack!"
T.J. Ford faked a drive, pivoted, and dished a perfect pass to the corner. His teammate drilled the three-pointer.
The ESPN commentator kept pace with the electrifying action. "Ford, with his trademark speed and court vision, once again delivers!"
Ford was a star in every sense. Ranked 17th in the RSCI as a freshman, his dazzling playmaking had made him a household name. Now a sophomore, he averaged 15 points and 8 assists per game, solidifying his position as a top NBA prospect.
Despite his height disadvantage and lingering spinal issues, Ford's extraordinary skill set had most draft experts projecting him as a top-10 pick.
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### The Wolves' Plan
North Carolina Wolves' head coach Herb Sendek had been clear in his pregame instructions:
"Shut down T.J. Ford, and the ticket to the finals is ours."
As the game intensified, the final berth in the championship hung in the balance.
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(End of Chapter)