28 - CALL ME DAD

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As soon as the words fell, Sailub raised his hand and passed the ball to Topten diagonally ahead.

In the instant the ball was released, Thanapon, who had just looked relaxed, seemed to have targeted Sailub’s movement early on.

While Topten raised his hand to catch the ball, Thanapon leaned forward, extended his arm, and slightly brushed past the basketball, instantly changing its direction.

Stepping forward, Thanapon quickly took control of the basketball, skillfully bypassed Boss, who was trying to intercept him, dribbled his way to the basket, jumped up, and made a dunk.

The ball went smoothly into the hoop — score!

This time it was Boss’s turn to scold Topten, “Can’t you catch the f*cking ball? Letting people dunk on our faces!”

Topten retorted unabashedly, “Can’t I make a mistake?”

Because Thanapon scored just now, it was now his team’s turn to inbound the ball.

Thanaponi passed the ball to one of his teammates, whispered a few words, then positioned himself a little farther away, ready to receive the ball.

“Teacher Sai, watch Thanapon!” Topten shouted to Sailub.

Sailub nodded.

The player with the ball raised his hand, aiming it at Thanapon, who seemed ready to receive it.

But the player made a feint and passed the ball to another teammate instead. While Topten and Boss were both focused on Thanapon,

Sailub actually anticipated that Thanapon would use this tactic — after all, being marked by three people simultaneously, even if Thanapon received the ball, it would be difficult for him to break through.

So Sailub deliberately stood close to the other teammate.

The moment the other player received the ball, Sailub quickly moved up to defend.

Unable to get past Sailub, the player threw the ball far away. Sailub’s defense worked, and the three-point shot hit the backboard and bounced out.

By this time, Thanapon had already broken through Topten and Boss’s defense, rushed to the basket, jumped decisively, and made another dunk, sending the rebounded basketball into the hoop once again.

After witnessing Thanapon score several consecutive baskets, Sailub understood how the significant gap in the score had come about — Thanapon’s skill far surpassed the others’, and now he was playing effortlessly.

As he walked past the hoop, Thanapon glanced at Sailub. “Ready to call me ‘phi’ yet?”

Sailub: “…”

Originally, he just wanted to join in and get some physical activity, trying to avoid sweating as much as possible.

But as he watched the score fall further and further behind, coupled with Thanapon’s recent provocation, Sailub’s long-suppressed competitiveness was slightly stirred.

He couldn’t possibly… really call a kid ten years younger than himself “phi.”

Since stepping onto the court Sailub had never been so serious.

Two meters away, Topten finally managed to get hold of the basketball and was about to dribble towards the hoop when Thanapon blocked his path.

Seeing the ball in Topten’s hands about to be intercepted by Thanapon, Sailub cut between the two from the side, setting a screen for Topten.

At 1.83 meters tall, Sailub successfully blocked Topten, who was slightly shorter behind him, for just a moment.

Topten had already shaken off Thanapon’s interference and quickly dribbled towards the basket.

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