"It's been 5 years, and we've finally won the championship!"

Yesterday morning, my social feed was flooded with one message.

Looking closely, it was that my home team had claimed the title...

Brothers who have followed Di Ge for a long time know that I have written several posts about Guangdong Career before.

My good friend Chen Jialiang is the team's general manager, and the players include the familiar Duck and Gao Yufeng.

This season, the "Lotus War God" has taken on the role of player-coach.

A few days ago, their team was in Zigui, the hometown of Qu Yuan located by the Xiling Gorge of the Yangtze River Three Gorges, where they made team history:

They won their first championship in five years since the club was founded.

Overcoming the hills, the dream came true.

From players to the general manager, no one could hide their excitement.

Jialiang said: "In the 5th year, I had never tasted the feeling of being champions. Thanks to everyone who helped Guangdong Career along the way. I have grown from a young man in my mid-twenties to my thirties. This championship belongs to everyone!"

Duck said: "After three years in professional 3-on-3 basketball, my first championship finally arrived! Our story is far from over! Keep going!"

Nigate said: "Despite various injuries, we never gave up! We finally earned the championship that belongs to us!"

"Second-level War God" Lin Siyang said: "Breaking the curse! Making team history! The brothers were amazing!"

Di Ge sent them a congratulatory message: "Five years, finally champions! Awesome!"

...

Looking back at this tournament, the journey to victory was extremely tough.

During the group stage, they won the first match against Huzhou Zhuque Rockets, but narrowly lost 17-22 to Shanghai Hengsha Yumin in the second game; on the second day, the team quickly adjusted and won consecutive matches against Wuxi Cultural Tourism Huishan and Guiyang Over, advancing to the knockout stage.

In the quarterfinals against old rival Beijing Enterprises, both sides fought fiercely until the last moment. Guangdong Career edged out a narrow 20-19 victory to advance to the semifinals.

In the semifinals versus Zhejiang Deqing Pulai, foreign player Miller and Duck took turns powering the team. The whole squad pushed to the limit on both offense and defense, finally winning 22-19 to reach the final.

In the final, they defeated the defending champions Shanghai Hengsha Yumin, led by Guo Hanyu, 22-20 to claim the championship.

Those familiar with the Super 3 League know that Hengsha Yumin is a long-established powerhouse in the league.

Therefore, this championship holds great value.

After 5 years, Guangdong Career finally used a weighty championship trophy to demonstrate that:

"It is not the final strike that breaks the stone, but the accumulation of countless previous hits."

This is the true essence of competitive sports.

This season's Super 3 League adopted a format of 25 regional tournaments plus 4 championship tournaments.

Eight teams participate in the regional tournaments, while all 19 league teams gather for the championship tournaments.

In recent seasons, Career has won regional tournament championships more than once, but the extremely challenging "championship tournament" title is their first in five years.

They have been through a lot in these five years.

From personnel changes to wandering away from home.

Due to provincial registration restrictions in the Super 3 League, Guangdong has many teams. So in the first two seasons, Career represented Macau and Guangxi respectively in the league.

In 2024, they finally "returned home."

So, whether as a fan or a friend, I deeply understand the excitement throughout the Career club.

The joy of the first championship in team history not only fills a historical gap but also resonates with countless individual dreams.

This honor is inseparable from the support of Career Sports Culture Company and embodies the long-term efforts and dedication of players, coaches, staff, and fans—a result of intertwined and shared dreams.

At the moment of lifting the trophy, I believe everyone would "forgive" the hardships endured over the years.

Winning the championship in Zigui, Qu Yuan's hometown in Hubei, is incredibly fitting for Career!

"The road ahead is long and has no ending; yet high and low I'll search with my will unbending," this moment is a vivid realization of that.

Time flies; five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Time is the measure that holds the present and remembers the past.

For Guangdong Career and Jialiang, now in his thirties, five years is a time scale measuring the relentless pace day and night.

Five years mark development, recording the transformation from cocoon to butterfly.

Five years serve as climbing steps, nurturing steadfast progress.

After five years, the championship finally belongs here...

For the "new dad" Duck, I am also very happy about his progress.

After starting a family, his responsibilities grew heavier, and his performance on the court also improved.

In this championship, he played a core role, scoring 9 points in the semifinals and 8 points (including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc) in the final, contributing on both offense and defense.

In competitive sports, only outstanding performance can break the labels placed by outsiders. Results and ability are the fundamental ways athletes prove themselves.

I have communicated with Career's players.

Whether it is Zhou Jiahao or Gao Yufeng, both clearly understand:

No matter the pressure from public opinion, identity bias, or popularity controversies, real effort and achievements on the court are the most convincing; results are the only hard currency.

The championship in Zigui can somewhat prove something for the "internet celebrity player" and "popular player" Zhou Jiahao.

A widely known saying in Chinese sports circles goes:

"Once you step down from the podium, everything starts from zero!"

Honor is like an icy step, shining brightly under the sun, but it requires running to prevent melting.

True champions never care about how many steps are behind them; they only focus on the starting line where everything resets.

For Guangdong Career club, after a brief celebration, a new battle has already begun.

As a friend, I wish them the best of luck!