“Now, I want one of you to shoot ten consecutive shots, and the other would fetch the ball to the shooter,” Cesar says. “In doing this, I won’t be always fetching the ball and at the same time watching if your shooting form is good or not. Would you comply with this?”

The two of them straightened and said, “We’ll do what you want, master.”

“Good. Now you gotta decide who’s gonna shoot first.”

Justin raises his hand and says, “I’ll fetch the ball while Mark shoots.”

“Very well. Do what you gotta do.”

“Yes, master.”

Justin finds where the two balls are and gets them. Once he has them in his hands, he gets near to the rim and then passes a ball to Mark.

With Cesar not far from his side, Mark readies to his shooting form. He looks to the rim in concentration, calculating the force of his shot and the probability of it making a bucket. After a much-awaited deliberation, Mark lets it rip. The ball flies in the space with a high arch.

‘It’s gonna go in,’ thought Mark.

But as the 2nd law of thermodynamics suggests, the ball starts to fall down. The ball eventually locks its target and it lands on the board near the side of the rim.

‘Well, dang it.’

“Wow, your form is good, Mark. And the pathway of your shot is in a high arch. You just gotta make your arm get used to shooting. Learn to aim your shot too and calculate.”

Justin passes Mark the ball he’s been holding and gets the other one thrown by Mark. He then goes back to his station near the rim.

Mark readies to his shooting form and then shoots. The ball soars high in the air but then hits nowhere but an airball.

‘Dang it.’

“Remember, you’re not gonna be good at anything the first time around. Be patient and you can be good at it.”

Justin passes the ball and gets the other.

Mark readies his form and then shoots the ball. It goes high as it was before but it goes somewhere different this time, the ball lands on the rim. Although the ball didn’t go in, Mark rejoices at his development.

“Keep going, Mark. You just gotta keep shooting to get a bucket.”

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Justin raises his fist and says, “Push through it buddy, you can do it.”

Mark nods and then proceeds to ready for his shooting form. Focused as he is, he’s still doubting that he could sink it in.

‘I’m not gonna score this shot, I’m just a beginner with a lot to improve. They’re right, I have to keep going and it’ll be better.’

With a look of determination, Mark jumps and shoots the ball. The ball lands on the rim, going in circles uncertain if it would decide to go in or out.

‘Is this finally my redemption?’

Unfortunately, the ball goes out of the rim and then hits the hardwood floor.

‘Oh, well. I still have more shots to go.’

Receiving the ball from Justin, he readies to his shooting form and then shoots. The ball lands on the board.

‘Again.’

Mark receives the ball from Justin and shoots it, it’s an airball.

‘Again.’

Mark receives the ball from Justin and shoots it, it hits the board.

With Mark having a light panting, Cesar gestures to Justin to not pass Mark the ball so that Mark could rest a bit but Mark insists that they must continue. Cesar takes a stand on his decision and forbids Mark to shoot for a while until he’s relaxed.

Seeing Mark breathing calmly, Cesar allows Justin to pass the ball to Mark.

Upon receiving the ball from Justin, Mark readies his shooting form and concentrates on looking at the rim.

‘Strong focus on what I want.’

Mark then jumps and shoots the ball. It went in a high arch soaring in the air.

‘This has to go in, it’s too perfect of a shot to be a waste.’

As the ball is going down, Mark changes his mind. The ball goes over the board out of bounds.

‘There’s still hope.’

Mark again catches the ball from Justin.

“Relax, Mark. Don’t think it too much, you just gotta feel every shot if it is good. How you feel in shooting makes a difference.”

Mark looks at Cesar and smiles saying, “Wow, thank you for the advice, Cesar. I didn’t even think about that.”

“Well, now you know. Every movement in your body affects the ball’s shot. You have to minimize your movement and focus on shooting it.”

“Yes, master.”

“Shoot the ball now, my student.”

Mark nods and then prepares his shooting form. Feeling everything he does, he looks intently at the rim.

‘I can do this. Nothing is impossible with God.

Mark jumps and shoots the ball. Flying in mid-air, the ball falls down with an airball.

‘Seriously!’

“Ok, last shot, Mark. It’s all about the process, Mark. You always don’t get it the first time, remember that.”

“Yes, master.”

Mark readies his shooting form and looks at the rim.

‘This has to go in because it always happens in the anime when the protagonist is in a desperate situation and they overcome it. Their plot armor is so thick, not even the Black Hole could rip it apart.’

Mark jumps and shoots the ball. Soaring high it aligns to the rim and it seems it will go in. Falling down, it only hits the rim and bounces away.

“Dang it. How does that happen? I shot ten shots and nothing went in. This is more impossible than making a bucket. A little bit impressive, but what the heck.”

“That’s okay, Mark,” says Cesar. “Just keep on practicing, you’ll make in a bucket.”

Mark takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh. He silently nods and walks toward Justin.

“It’s your turn now, mah friend. I hope you could make a bucket unlike me.”

“Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself, Mark. With a little shooting practice, we’ll be better at it. Just be patient, we can use this court as much as we can.”

“I guess you’re right, but you better go to Cesar and shoot some hoops. I hope you can sink some in like you did with a swoosh.”

“I won’t disappoint you, Mark. I’ll make a bucket just for you, man.”

“Thank you, Justin.”