Chapter 109: A Reward?

Yesterday, through a draw, Yu Manman secured the competition venue for the Tiancheng Polytechnic University basketball team—it would be held at the National Sports Stadium in the East District. This spared them the hassle of a long journey to another district’s stadium for the matches.

After familiarizing themselves with the court, Yu Manman gathered the players.

“Today marks our first preliminary match. Our opponents are from the West District—Zongzhi University of Technology. Last year, they ranked seventy-seventh in the national college basketball league.”

“Although their ranking isn’t high, their starting players all average over 185 centimeters in height, much like Wanlong Transportation University.”

“Recalling our knockout match against Wanlong Transportation University, our victory was more luck than strength.”

“So, for today’s game, we’ll stick to the same strategy: man-to-man defense throughout the court and rapid fast-break offense.”

“We will also continue our rotation system: substitutes play the first and third quarters, while starters take the second and fourth.”

Yu Manman looked seriously at the players. “Today is the first day of preliminaries—don’t lose the very first game.”

“Coach, don’t worry. Isn’t there me?” Geng Haoshi said proudly. “If it comes down to it, I’ll seal the deal with a last-second shot.”

Yu Manman rolled her eyes. “If we lose in the end, you’re the first one I’ll call out!”

Not long after, following a fifteen-minute warm-up, the match between Tiancheng Polytechnic University and Zongzhi University of Technology officially began at 10 a.m.

In the first quarter, Yu Manman sent out the all-substitute lineup: Chen Yu, He Zhikun, Zhang Zhaolong, Lin Zhiling, and Wang Meng.

Early on, both sides were a bit tense. After five minutes, the score was tied at 6–6.

Sitting on the sidelines with legs crossed, Geng Haoshi remarked, “Coach, it seems their height is similar to Wanlong Transportation University, but their offense and defense are much weaker.”

Just as Geng Haoshi observed, although Zongzhi’s players had a considerable height advantage, their speed couldn’t match Wanlong’s. Overall, Zongzhi played a steady, methodical game.

As the match progressed, Tiancheng Polytechnic’s substitutes grew more confident. With several precise jump shots, they gradually widened the score gap.

“Beep—”

The first quarter ended with Tiancheng Polytechnic leading 21 to 16.

“You all played well; I’m quite pleased,” Geng Haoshi said to Chen Yu and the others as they came off the court, adopting a leadership tone. Then he looked at Yu Manman. “Coach, looks like we won’t need to play after all.”

Yu Manman gave him a deadpan look. “Am I the coach, or are you? Do you want to teach me how to strategize?”

“Only if in the second quarter your starters can extend the lead to over 30 points,” she added.

“Fine! Thirty points it is!” Geng Haoshi said confidently.

His confidence stemmed from watching Zongzhi’s performance: aside from their height, their shooting was inaccurate and their speed lacking. He believed handling them would be much easier than facing Wanlong’s starters.

“Beep—”

The second quarter began, and Tiancheng Polytechnic sent out their five starters: Geng Haoshi, Zhou Xiaoshan, Zhu Di, Sun Peng, and Meng Lang.

As the game continued, Geng Haoshi’s conviction grew stronger—Zongzhi’s starters and Wanlong’s were not on the same level at all.

If their win over Wanlong had been more luck than skill, this match against Zongzhi was a one-sided domination by Tiancheng Polytechnic.

Just over three minutes into the second quarter, the lead had already stretched to sixteen points.

“Zhu Di!” Geng Haoshi sprinted toward the opponent’s basket as Zhu Di held the ball.

“Got it!” Zhu Di saw Geng Haoshi leap near the basket and passed the ball with perfect timing.

“Bang!”

With a loud thud, Geng Haoshi slammed the ball decisively through the hoop.

“That little guy just dunked?!”

“Yeah, look how much shorter he is than the others!”

“Looks like this year’s national college basketball league has a rising star!”

Amid the crowd’s chatter, a middle-aged man with a small mustache watched Geng Haoshi with keen interest, seemingly calculating something.

“Bang!”

Not long after, Geng Haoshi completed another alley-oop dunk.

Tiancheng Polytechnic’s starters were firing on all cylinders. Despite facing tall and muscular opponents, their much faster offense rapidly extended the score.

During this stretch, Geng Haoshi made two more alley-oop dunks.

“Strange, no record of this kid?” The mustachioed man in the stands looked at his player data. “Could he be a newcomer who just joined the university team?”

With thirty-two seconds left in the second quarter, Tiancheng Polytechnic already led by thirty-four points.

“Pass!” Geng Haoshi called to team captain Meng Lang, who held the ball.

By now, Geng Haoshi had completed four alley-oop dunks this quarter and was clearly hooked. Though only Zhu Di usually trained with him for alley-oops, he wanted one more before the quarter ended.

Seeing Geng Haoshi jump near the opponent’s basket, Meng Lang timed his pass perfectly, tossing the ball above him.

“Bang!”

Gripping the rim with his right hand, Geng Haoshi slammed the ball through the hoop again, feeling an exhilarating rush.

At that moment, 9527’s voice sounded: “Congratulations, Master. You have successfully completed ten dunks during this official match, earning the ‘Unstoppable’ dunk reward. The ‘Unstoppable’ dunk reward mechanism is now activated. Please continue your efforts to gain more rewards.”

Hearing this, Geng Haoshi released the rim and landed.

Geng Haoshi wondered silently: What exactly is the “Unstoppable” dunk reward?