As the third quarter stretched on, the Japanese team began to feel what they hadn't expected—a creeping sense of dread and defeat.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
"We said China would be the easiest win," Saito Ren muttered under his breath as he wiped the sweat from his forehead during a quick break. His voice carried frustration, his gaze darting toward his teammates. "Why does it feel like we're drowning out there?"
Kenta, one of their forwards, nodded grimly while panting. "The first half was already tough, but this…"
He glanced across the court, where Kai Guo and the rest of the young players stood. "They're as young as my brother, and my brother is definitely not this energetic."
65-63.
The score was in favor of the Chinese team now. And it definitely wasn't luck. It was because their teamwork had improved over the course of their training!
They almost had perfect teamwork. Almost.
