I reccomend run with the wind and Chihayafuru. Chihayafuru is a bit longer (3 seasons 24 episodes each) but both share themes to Ping Pong the animation such as losing motivation and (re)falling in love with a sport.
I’m still chasing that high from Ping pong the animation myself but run with the wind came close.
I don’t know if I spent too much time with brainworm liberals but lately it feels like there’s more of these conservative types that would be more likely to listen than the liberals.