Flying Waves

The Jaguars' next opponent was the Flying Waves, a team featuring Kogure. Inside the Flying Waves' training facility, Kogure was carefully analyzing his former teammates.

"First, their center, Akagi. His solid fundamentals and fierce defense are his trademarks. I've reviewed the Jaguars' game footage. In their recent games, they've started their offense through Akagi in the paint, so we can make some targeted arrangements. Their power forward, Sakuragi Hanamichi, was the overseas draft pick Coach brought in. I practically watched him go from not knowing how to play basketball to gradually finding his footing. We need to guard him closely. Sometimes, his choices are beyond anything you'd expect! Their forward, Mitsui Hisashi, is a three-point shooter, but don't think guarding his shot is enough. His drives are just as sharp. Their shooting guard, Rukawa Kaede, is this year's top overall pick. From these past few games, Rukawa's abilities have improved tremendously, especially when it comes to creating offense for his teammates. It's very noticeable. Their point guard, Miyagi Ryota, is fast and has a great dribbling rhythm. In their last game against the Deer Horns, he hit two straight threes, so we need to pay special attention to his shooting as well!"

Kogure's words left not only the coach stunned, but all of his teammates in amazement.

"Kogure, Kogure... I'm honestly afraid that if you ever go to another team, we might end up becoming the Jaguars of today. Your research is far too detailed. The opponents practically have no secrets left in front of you!" The coach was already thinking far ahead.

"It's not that much..." Kogure said awkwardly after hearing the coach's praise.

"Coach, look at it this way. If we can sign someone from every team in the future, then we'll know every other team inside and out!" It was that big-eyed player again, analyzing things from another angle.

"All right... you have a point!" The coach was left speechless.

The focus shifted to the Jaguars. After their brutal battle against the Deer Horns, the Jaguars finally received some rare rest since the start of the season. Over the next seven days, they only had one road game against the Flying Waves. This not only eased the players' fatigue, but also gave Coach Omoki time to summarize the problems that had appeared in the team's previous games. Still, too long a break could be harmful as well—it could make them lose their feel for competition.

"Although our game against the Flying Waves won't begin for another five days, after discussing it, the coaching staff believes we should maintain our game rhythm. So, we've decided to head to Fukuyama today! First of all, Fukuyama's climate is quite different from ours. If we go a few days early, we can get used to it. Second, before playing us, Fukuyama still has a home game. If we arrive early, we can watch an extra game and learn more about this team!" Coach Omoki announced in the training facility.

"Also, the Flying Waves' home court is near the coast. Golden beaches! The scenery is absolutely breathtaking!" Omoki added, his eyes looking as though he were already drunk on the view.

"It's just the Flying Waves. Do we really need to be this cautious?!" Sakuragi asked, confused.

"Idiot, never underestimate an opponent! The Flying Waves have an old acquaintance of ours!" Akagi's words only confused Sakuragi further.

"An old acquaintance???" Sakuragi couldn't think of anyone.

Kogure really does have a low presence sometimes, Akagi thought.

"It's Shohoku's former sixth man, Kogure Kiminobu! Don't tell me you forgot him, Sakuragi!" Miyagi blurted out before anyone else could speak.

"Ko... gure... Glasses!!! He's still playing basketball?! He should be teaching, or being a doctor, or working as a full-time dad!!" Sakuragi could hardly believe it. Perhaps in his impression, Kogure's ability had never seemed capable of reaching the professional level.

"Idiot, Kogure trains extremely hard, and his strength has grown by leaps and bounds. He's now a forward for the Flying Waves!" Akagi's words finally convinced Sakuragi.

"Glasses... Hahaha, I never thought that guy actually had it in him!" Sakuragi laughed heartily.

"And that guy... I wonder how much his skills have improved!" It seemed Mitsui had remembered another old acquaintance.

"Who is that, Mi... Can't you just say his name directly?!" Sakuragi was straightforward by nature and hated all this guessing around.

"Fujima Kenji..." Rukawa suddenly gave the name.

"Ah!!! Him! How could a genius like me forget? Hahaha, I was just messing with you guys!" Seeing that Rukawa knew, Sakuragi suddenly acted as if he had remembered all along.

"Hey, Mitsui, who is it exactly?!" Sakuragi had clearly been pretending. He turned and ran over to whisper in Mitsui's ear.

"How did you forget after three years in the United States?! Fujima Kenji, Shoyo's former number four player and team coach! Don't tell me you really forgot him, Sakuragi!" Mitsui could hardly believe Sakuragi's memory.

"Ah!!! That big-eyed guy with yellow hair who was always wearing a tracksuit?!" Sakuragi seemed to finally remember.

"That's right, it's him. All right, we'll carefully analyze their team when we watch the game. Everyone, head back to the dorms and get ready. We leave in half an hour!" At Omoki's command, everyone immediately dispersed.

The Flying Waves were a longtime powerhouse in the JBa League, and their city, Fukuyama, was a beautiful coastal city. Fukuyama's entire coastline could be called the most beautiful and best-preserved in all of Japan, just like the "Golden Coast" Coach Omoki had described! Especially during daylight saving time each year, due to the terrain and the angle of the sunlight, the entire sea took on a spectacular emerald-green hue. At dusk, waves crashed against the shore, turning the whole scene into something like a fairyland! That was why Fukuyama's team had taken the name Flying Waves, hoping the team could soar like the waves themselves.

The team's star was naturally guard Fujima Kenji. The former acting coach of Shoyo had already proven his ability in the JBa. Last season, he averaged 46 points, 6 assists, and steals per game. The Flying Waves had always believed that choosing Fujima as the foundation of the team and building around him had been a wise decision. They also had quite a few highly useful team-oriented players.

Thus, the Flying Waves were no weak team. They were a classic team-oriented squad!

The Flying Waves' game against the Great White Sharks was about to begin, and the coach was making his final arrangements in the locker room.

The Flying Waves' head coach, Moriyama Hiroo, addressed the team. "Get your heads in the game and take this one down. Although our opponent is fairly ordinary, we still can't let our guard down. Keep the rhythm of the game firmly in our own hands! Oh, right. I heard our next opponent, the Jaguars, arrived early and plans to watch our game tonight. We have to show them our spirit!"

"They're here too... I'm actually a little excited!" Hearing that his old teammates had arrived, Kogure's heart surged with emotion.

Moriyama Hiroo, the Flying Waves' head coach, was not tall, but he was extremely solidly built. His sharp, sword-like eyebrows were his most distinctive feature! He had once been a player for the Flying Waves as well. During his playing days, Moriyama had been a pure playmaking guard who emphasized team basketball. Now, as a coach, he placed even more emphasis on it. It was easy to see from the Flying Waves' games that everyone was willing to share the ball. Their league-leading average of 56 assists per game was the best proof.

"Hey!!! We came all the way to a place with scenery this beautiful, and we still have to watch a game... What a waste!" The moment the Jaguars took their seats, Sakuragi began complaining.

"Sakuragi, watch the game carefully. Coming here now is the best chance for you to gain experience and become familiar with the players. Watching a game this closely is the best way to do that," Omoki said.

"All right, then. I'm looking forward to seeing what Kogure can do!" Sakuragi obediently sat down.

"Kogure, show us the results of all the training we did this offseason!" Akagi was looking forward to Kogure's performance as well.

The players from both teams had taken the court, and the game between the Flying Waves and the Great White Sharks was about to begin.

The two centers, Kubofuji and Mikami Shotaro, stepped up for the tip-off. Kubofuji won possession, and the Flying Waves organized the first attack of the game.

The ball quickly reached Fujima's hands, with Nakazawa Eiken defending him.

Fujima ran a pick-and-roll with the team's power forward and foreign import, Kadir Swift. But Swift did not roll to the basket, nor did Fujima drive into the paint. Instead, he curved along the three-point line, with Swift following him. He drove all the way to the baseline, where Swift set another screen for him. This time, Fujima cut along the baseline and charged into the paint.

"Double-team Fujima! He's going for the layup!" Nakazawa Eiken shouted after getting screened off.

The Great White Sharks' players immediately rotated over to help. But Fujima did not choose to lay the ball in. He continued dribbling along the baseline, drawing the defense of three Great White Sharks players, including Abe Kawakami, the Great White Sharks guard assigned to defend Kogure.

Seeing Kogure wide open at the corner three-point line, Fujima passed him the ball. Though the corner was not Kogure's most familiar spot, Fujima still delivered the pass. Kogure received it comfortably and fired a three!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The ball clanged hard against the rim several times before finally dropping in!

Kogure scored the first points for his team.

"On their very first possession, the Flying Waves have already displayed extremely high tactical discipline. Fujima's drive, his teammates' screens, Fujima using his skilled ballhandling to move freely in the paint, and finally finding Kogure with the best opportunity to make the shot—everything was methodical, smooth, and fluid. Everyone, pay close attention to how the ball moves when the Flying Waves are on offense!" Omoki gave the Flying Waves' offense high praise while reminding his players to observe every detail of the game.