...Though time was running out after I received an inbound pass, I wasn't in a hurry.I knew an intentional foul was coming and the opponent team was out of fouls...
It is not the best feeling when you lose, especially, if you were so sure to win. You want it so badly and put the commitment, passion, and heart, surpassing all the hardwork. But suddenly it disappears. A day or two, any meal doesn't taste good and you don't have any motive to anything. I remember one of those feelings back from high school basketball tournaments.
I did not want to remind this old feeling in yesterday's semifinals. Both teams were very aggressive and that's the way it has to be. It was the best team we confronted so far. Score was close at the start of the 2nd half, but we were trailing. I knew I would regret if we lose－to this team, again this year. Though our team lost last year's match, it was a success compared to the previous year's elimination in the preliminary round. Having led my team to the quarterfinals and done my best to compete against the best team, I didn't have much regret then. But not this time.
This time, we had the best player in the front-court, the best big man in the paint, and the best shooter behind the arc. We were the "bad guys" scoring the highest and keeping opponents to the lowest. With that help, my job was much easier－so was everybody's. I didn't have to push myself to the limit to defend the best player on the other team and score 16 out of total 24 at the same time. Putting all the weight off the shoulders slightly increased my efficiency and needed much fewer attempts to score double digits. I got fresh legs to run for an open look and hit difference making back-to-back 3 pointers to silence the opposing crowd in the most critical moment. It felt real good－as good as having a big lead, and waiting for a buzzer sound to hand the ball to the referee in the final game...
...2 free throws made a 5 point margin. I relieved. That was it－the hardest game of the tournament.
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