The school gym was silent, occasionally interrupted by the sounds of balls bouncing off the floor. Ming You leaned against the wall, intently watching his team. His expressionless face revealed no joy or excitement, only cold calmness. He knew it was time to take an important step forward.
"Alright," he began, drawing the attention of his teammates. "We need to discuss the upcoming inter-school tournaments. Each opponent has their strengths and weaknesses, and we must be prepared for any surprises."
Jung Ho, always ready to offer advice, leaned over to Ming You and quietly asked, "Are you sure we should be discussing this now? Maybe it would be better for Lu Shen to warm up first?"
"Warming up is important, but strategy is even more important," Ming You replied, keeping his gaze fixed on his teammates. "We cannot afford to underestimate our opponents. Let's start with Syoguro. They are known for their tactical approach. Their game is built on well-thought-out combinations and teamwork on the court."
Lu Shen, always ready to joke, couldn't help himself: "So, maybe we should just scare them with our dicks? They're not used to that kind of tactical approach!"
"Lu Shen," Haru Lin chimed in, teasing his friend, "you seem to not understand that your dick won't help us make a three-point shot."
Ming You continued indifferently, ignoring the jokes: "Next, we have Sinzu. They pass the ball quickly and are capable of lightning-fast attacks. If we can't stop them at the start of the game, they will set a pace that will be hard to change."
"And what if we just stand still and watch them play?" Lu Shen interjected again, laughing. "That would be very tactical!"
"You don't get it," Jung Ho said, suppressing a smile. "Ming You is trying to say that we need to be ready for their quick attacks. We must learn to anticipate their movements."
"Exactly," Ming You nodded. "Then we have Yuromusho. Their defense is like a wall, and breaking through it won't be easy. But if we can find their weak spots, we can strike."
"How do you plan to do that?" asked Hong Ren, his indifferent tone unchanged.
"I analyzed their recent games, which San Liu provided me," Ming You replied. "They often leave corridors open on the flanks. If we can exploit that to our advantage, we will have a chance."
"Sounds good," Jung Ho said, nodding approvingly. "What about Siomo?"
"Siomo's ace is their shooter," Ming You continued. "His shots are as accurate as ever. We need to be ready for his attacks and not give him any space."
Lu Shen couldn't resist again: "Maybe we should just lock him in a closet before the game? That would be great defense!"
Ming You paused slightly, considering it as an idea, but ultimately ignored him and continued: "Finally, we have Gokudan. They possess all the qualities at once. It's a team that can adapt to any situation. Their main asset is their versatility. If we can anticipate their tactics, we will have a chance."
"So we need to be ready for anything?" Haru Lin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly," Ming You confirmed. "We must be flexible and respond quickly to changes in the game."
After that, he paused, allowing his teammates to digest the information. Ming You knew his analysis had been thorough, but now it was time to move to practice.
"Let's work on our three-point shots," he said, picking up the ball. "This is our key to success. If we are confident in our shots, we can put pressure on our opponents."
The team spread out on the court, taking their positions. Lu Shen, as always, was the first to start teasing.
"I hope we have the same accuracy as Ming You," Lu Shen said, winking at his teammates.
Ming You just shook his head, but he managed a slight smile.
"Okay," he said, lifting the ball. "Let's focus. Each of you needs to work on your shots. We'll do some drills, and then move on to defense."
The team began taking turns shooting. Ming You watched each movement closely, correcting technique when necessary. He knew that confidence in their abilities was key to success.
"Haru Lin, your shot is too low," he noted as Haru Lin attempted to shoot the ball into the basket. "Lift your elbows higher, and don't forget about your follow-through."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Haru Lin replied, slightly huffing. "But you haven't seen how I shoot in other games!"
"And that's exactly why we're here, to improve our skills," Ming You said, not relenting. "If we want to win, we need to be at our best."
After several minutes of intense practice, the team began to feel more confident. Ming You noticed how Jung Ho had started to control the ball better, and Hong Ren finally began to hit the basket.
"Oh, and by the way, guys," Ming You began, "I want to tell you about a new technique that we will use in the upcoming tournaments. I called it 'The Cobweb.'"
Lu Shen, standing a bit aside, winked at him. "The Cobweb? I hope that doesn't mean we're going to catch them like flies," he joked.
"No, Lu Shen," Ming You replied coolly, "it's a technique that will help us create the perfect tempo for defense. It only works in team play and allows us not only to contain the opponent's attacks but also to steal the ball at the right moment."
"Sounds interesting," Haru Lin said, tilting his head slightly. "But how does it work?"
"Look," Ming You continued, "the 'Cobweb' is based on a strategy that allows us to move across the court in such a way as to create a closed circle around the attacking player. We will act as a single unit, using our positions to deny the opponent any chance to pass."
"That sounds complicated," Jung Ho remarked, squinting. "How can we be sure it will work?"
"The key is timing and coordination," Ming You explained. "In the last minutes of the game, when opponents start to panic, the 'Cobweb' will be especially effective. We can force them to make mistakes and intercept the ball."
"And what about weaknesses?" Hong Ren asked, raising his hand. "Every technique has its drawbacks."
"You're right," Ming You nodded. "The weakness of the 'Cobweb' is that we need to buy time and outsmart the opponent. If they figure out our strategy, everything will become much harder. So it's important that we act quickly and cohesively."
"So we need to be like spiders weaving their Cobweb," Lu Shen smirked. "I hope I won't end up as the fly!"
"I'm sure you'll be the spider," Ming You replied, pretending to laugh. "Now, let me show you how this technique will work in practice. Lu Shen, you'll be the referee."
Lu Shen, with a smile on his face, nodded and raised the whistle. "Alright, I'll keep an eye on things. Remember, this is just practice, but I expect fair play!"
Ming You chose Hong Ren for his team, and against them stood Jung Ho with Haru Lin. Both opponents looked confident, ready for a fight.
"Ready?" Lu Shen asked, raising the whistle. "Let's go!"
He blew the whistle, and the game began. Ming You and Hong Ren immediately took defensive positions, trying to create the "Cobweb" around Jung Ho, who held the ball.
"Hong Ren, remember," Ming You said, "we need to act in sync. I'll distract him, and you try to intercept the ball."
Hong Ren nodded, watching Jung Ho's movements closely. Ming You stepped forward, raising his hands to block Jung Ho.
"Come on, Jung Ho!" Haru Lin shouted, encouraging his partner.
Jung Ho confidently maneuvered around Ming You, but he quickly returned to position, denying him a chance to pass. Hong Ren, following Ming You, began to tighten the "Cobweb," closing in on Jung Ho.
"Don't let him get away!" Ming You shouted, and Hong Ren made a quick step forward, trying to knock the ball loose.
"Hey, not so fast!" Lu Shen exclaimed, watching the game. "That's a foul!"
"Not at all!" Hong Ren laughed. "We're just trying to apply pressure!"
Feeling cornered, Jung Ho began to panic and tried to take a step back, but Hong Ren was already close, leaving him no chance to pass.
"Now!" Ming You shouted as Hong Ren lunged forward, intercepting the ball at the last moment.
"Great, we did it!" Hong Ren cheered, raising the ball in the air.
Ming You, smiling, said, "See how it works? We created the Cobweb and forced him to make a mistake. Now let's attack!"
They began moving toward the hoop, but Jung Ho and Haru Lin were not going to give up easily. Haru Lin quickly returned to defense, trying to intercept the ball from Ming You.
"Don't think you'll get through easily!" Haru Lin shouted, attempting to block the path.
Ming You, confidently dribbling the ball, maneuvered around Haru Lin, but Jung Ho was already waiting for him on the other side.
"Think faster, Ming You!" Hong Ren shouted, encouraging his partner.
"I know what to do," Ming You calmly replied, raising the ball over his head. He faked to the left, deceiving Haru Lin, and passed the ball to Hong Ren.
Hong Ren skillfully caught the ball and shot it at the basket, but Jung Ho managed to jump up and block his attempt.
"Not bad, but not enough!" Jung Ho laughed. "I won't let you go that easily!"
"We need to be quicker," Ming You said, gathering the team. "The 'Cobweb' has to work as a whole. If we lose the moment, the opponent will take advantage."
Lu Shen, watching the game, noted, "Guys, you need to interact more. If one of you loses position, the other should be ready to back him up. That's the key to the success of this technique."
Ming You nodded, understanding the importance of the referee's comment. He gathered the team and said, "Let's focus. We can win if we act cohesively. Hong Ren, you'll be my eyes. Keep Jung Ho under control while I try to distract Haru Lin."
"Got it," Hong Ren replied, preparing for the next round.
The game resumed. Ming You took position again, ready for the attack. He faked Haru Lin out, stepping left, then sharply returning right to get around him. Hong Ren, following him, created the necessary space.
"Let's go!" Ming You shouted as they both approached the hoop.
Hong Ren, receiving the ball, threw it toward the basket, but Jung Ho managed to jump up and block the shot again.
"You need to be more creative!" Lu Shen commented, blowing his whistle. "Try using combinations and deceptive moves."
"Yeah, yeah," Ming You said, "let's try a new strategy. Hong Ren, pretend you're going to shoot, and I'll distract them."
They started the game again, and Ming You noticed how Hong Ren prepared for his maneuver. He made a sharp step to the side, drawing Haru Lin's attention. Hong Ren, seizing the moment, lifted the ball and shot it at the basket.
This time, the shot was successful! The ball flew past Jung Ho and swished through the net.
"Great job!" Lu Shen cheered. "Now you're showing how the 'Cobweb' should work."
The opponents looked a bit confused, but soon regrouped and started a new attack. Jung Ho and Haru Lin decided they needed to act more aggressively.
"We can't let them keep going like this," Jung Ho said, preparing for the next move. "Haru Lin, let's attack them from both sides!"
They began moving toward the hoop, and Ming You and Hong Ren quickly took defensive positions. Hong Ren, feeling the pressure, closed in on Jung Ho, while Ming You focused on Haru Lin.
"Keep him under control!" Ming You shouted, trying not to let Haru Lin through.
Haru Lin tried to maneuver around Ming You, but he was on high alert. At that moment, Hong Ren, noticing that Jung Ho was trying to break free, quickly shifted to block his path.
"Not getting past me, huh?" Jung Ho smirked, trying to get around Hong Ren.
"Not today!" Hong Ren replied, standing firm.
Ming You used this moment to attempt to steal the ball from Haru Lin. He stepped forward sharply and managed to knock the ball out of his opponent's hands.
Haru Lin was slightly shocked, and Hong Ren quickly rushed to him, with Ming You passing the ball to his partner.
"Take the shot," he shouted.
Hong Ren, not wasting any time, threw the ball at the basket. His shot was accurate, and Ming You's team celebrated their success once again.
"We have a great chance to win if we keep working together like this," Hong Ren said, smiling.
Lu Shen, watching the progress, remarked, "You guys are doing great! But don't forget to stay alert on defense. The opponents can take advantage of any mistake you make."
The game ended, and the team headed to the locker room before dispersing to go home.