Just like that, another two weeks passed.
As the time for the National Tournament approached, **Teiko** also began to make moves.
**Shirogane Kozo** believed that the team's current chemistry was quite good.
Several first-year freshmen all possessed strong immediate combat power, not needing leveling up; they were basically plug-and-play.
Even if they didn't start, they could increase the depth of Teiko's bench.
Just casually adding an experienced veteran to those few kids could make up a second lineup.
However, without a match, the team's quality couldn't be tested.
Therefore, after the chemistry was about right, Shirogane Kozo arranged a practice match for Teiko.
The match time was today, and the location was the Teiko Basketball Club.
For a basketball powerhouse like Teiko, there was never a shortage of practice matches; there were always people asking for a match.
Shirogane Kozo didn't need to actively ask; he only needed to select from the teams asking Teiko for a match.
Because it was the first battle for the team's new lineup, Shirogane Kozo didn't pick an opponent that was too strong, but of course, they couldn't be too weak either.
He chose a team from Kanagawa as the opponent to test the team.
**Kawasaki Daifuzoku (Kawasaki University Affiliated)**.
Last year, they were only one step away from entering the Nationals, but lost by 1 point to a powerful opponent in the final qualifiers.
Such an opponent was just right.
...
At this moment, the gym was full of people... uh, not full.
The match was scheduled for Saturday. Apart from the basketball club members, there were no other spectators.
The Teiko basketball club members were changing into their match gear in the locker room.
Most people looked relaxed.
The upperclassmen didn't fear an opponent like Kawasaki Daifuzoku; in the past two years, Teiko's results had been above theirs.
As for the first years, **Tendo Keigon** didn't even know the meaning of the word "fear." **Aomine** cared about how many minutes the coach would give him on the court later.
After getting ready, everyone followed **Nijimura Shuuzo** out of the locker room into the gym.
The opponents had also finished warming up at this time, and the match could start at any time.
In Japan, jersey numbers are fixed; the captain is number 4, all the way to number 15, according to FIBA standards.
Tendo Keigon chose number 14 as his jersey number.
There was no special reason; 14 wasn't his lucky number either.
He just felt this number was more pleasing to the eye.
Watching *Slam Dunk*, he liked **Sakuragi**'s humor and hot-bloodedness, and envied **Rukawa** and **Sendoh** for being handsome and good at playing.
He wanted to be all of them!
Looking back when he grew up, he found that the one he liked most was actually **Mitsui Hisashi**.
How old was he again?
Tendo Keigon forgot, only remembering that at the time he watched Mitsui get beaten up, he was cheering loudly.
Looking back after growing up, that line "Coach, I want to play basketball" moved him to tears.
That kind of indelible fighting spirit is admirable!
More importantly, Mitsui's family is rich...
Both teams were warming up, and that guy **Kubo Jun** had rushed over upon hearing the news again.
At this time, Shirogane Kozo walked up to Tendo Keigon and said to him, "Did you see that number 7? Kawasaki Daifuzoku's ace guard. In last year's final elimination rounds in Kanagawa, he scored 20+ points in 3 consecutive games."
Tendo Keigon nodded to indicate he saw him, then looked at Shirogane Kozo.
The latter didn't waste words and said directly, "He's your opponent today!"
"Opponent?" Tendo Keigon was stunned for a moment. "I'm starting today?"
"Scared?"
"Quite scared." Tendo Keigon grinned. "Scared that one isn't enough for me to beat!"
*This kid.*
Shirogane Kozo liked this kind of confident player; that was another important weapon besides a player's skills.
Seeing that Tendo Keigon could start, Aomine couldn't help asking expectantly, "What about me, Coach? Am I starting today too?"
"Young Aomine, just watch from the bench for now."
*Where am I young?*
*Isn't that guy Tendo in the same grade as me?*
Aomine felt a pain in the balls (frustrated), his face scrunching up.
**Midorima** didn't say anything, but his heart felt the same as Aomine's.
Everyone is a genius; who would admit they are inferior to the other?
**Akashi**, on the other hand, was more perceptive.
Among the few first-years, only Tendo Keigon and **Murasakibara Atsushi** successfully made the starting lineup.
Tendo and Murasakibara both showed amazing defensive abilities in the club entry assessment.
Murasakibara can guard the paint, and Tendo Keigon can lock down the opponent's spearhead.
Shirogane Kozo's meaning was obvious: start with defense, play steadily and surely, fitting the philosophy of the older generation of basketball people.
"Watch carefully from off the court first; there will be time for you to play." Nijimura Shuuzo comforted the few first-year brats.
After speaking, he went to continue warming up.
"First years?"
When the game started, the players from both sides met at the center circle. The people from Kawasaki Daifuzoku saw two new students in Teiko's lineup and were very surprised.
"Did Teiko give up this year?"
Every year after the Nationals, the strength of most teams fluctuates.
Especially for teams with third-years as the main force, as players graduate, their strength will fall off a cliff.
This year they might make the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, or even finals, but next year this team might be nowhere to be found.
Seeing Teiko start two first-year freshmen, the Kawasaki people couldn't help but gloat.
Because last year's core players were all second-years, and they were all retained.
This year is Kawasaki Daifuzoku's peak.
"Give up?"
"The word 'give up' doesn't exist in Teiko's dictionary."
"Is that so? Underestimating us will make you suffer losses; don't say I didn't warn you."
*Two B's?* (Idiots/Newbies)
The Kawasaki captain looked disdainful.
Although that first-year center was tall, judging from his expression, he was stupidly cute. Once the game started later, he feared he wouldn't even know where the basket was.
The other one was even funnier; wearing sunglasses at a time like this, one look and you knew he was just making up the numbers.
The Kawasaki people couldn't help laughing loudly.
That appearance was just like the Team Shanxi Tofu in *Shaolin Soccer*, frantically mocking the Shaolin Soccer Team before the match started.
"Tendo, you idiot, isn't it forbidden to bring sunglasses to the basketball club!!!"
"Hmm?" Tendo Keigon touched his face, only to realize he hadn't taken off his glasses. "Oh, forgot. Sorry!"
"Hahahaha~~~"
Tofu... no, the people from Kawasaki Daifuzoku finally couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
'Laugh, you'll be crying later.'
'Is there such a thing?'
'?'
'Shaolin Soccer's Shanxi Tofu Team, ah. They laughed at Master Sing like this at the beginning too.'
'Hahahaha, said it earlier. As soon as that prick opened his mouth, I had the picture in my head.'
'Daring to mock the Cat (Tendo), wait for death!'