Unexpected

After Kogure, Akagi, and their other old teammates finally reunited, the real contest began. Miyagi's pull-up jumper gave the Jaguars the first basket of the game, and the Flying Waves found an opportunity on their next possession. Taking advantage of the height difference when Miyagi defended Kogure, Kogure fired from his favorite forty-five-degree angle beyond the arc!

"Clang!" A crisp sound of iron!

It seemed that just after the opening tip, Kogure's shooting touch was still a little cold.

"Good shot, Kogure. It's okay, keep doing that!" Fujima took the initiative to high-five Kogure and encourage him.

It was a long rebound. Although Fujiwara had correctly anticipated where it would land, he still could not outjump Sakuragi, who had already boxed him out.

"You're not getting this rebound, Sleepyhead!" At some point, Sakuragi had given Fujiwara that nickname.

Sakuragi handed the ball to Miyagi. Just as Coach Omoki had arranged before the game, the Jaguars' offense was extremely patient. Even when they had a chance to run, they slowed the pace and transitioned into their half-court offense.

This possession was exactly the same as the last one. Akagi's high-quality screen gave Miyagi another open look, from the same spot—a second pull-up jumper!

"Swish!" Nothing but net again!

Right from the opening, Miyagi had gotten into rhythm quickly, scoring four straight points. Miyagi was only the Jaguars' fourth scoring option behind Akagi, Rukawa Kaede, and Mitsui, but at the moment, Miyagi had the hottest hand.

"It's okay, it's okay. We'll get one back!" Fujima continued encouraging the whole team like a coach.

"Fujima was already a player-coach in high school, which made him more mature mentally than players his age. That's why he played on the court like a veteran who had already been in the league for a season. With him on the floor, this team has a soul. Even if I don't call a timeout, Fujima will set up tactics on the court." Coach Moriyama watched Fujima directing the action as though he were enjoying a symphony concert, his expression utterly absorbed. Though his team was behind, there was not the slightest hint of anxiety on his face.

Fujima truly believed in Kogure and gave him the ball again. Seeing Miyagi playing far off him, Kogure simply rose up for another three-pointer!

"Clang, clang!" The ball rolled around the rim twice before bouncing out.

Akagi grabbed the rebound.

"Kogure is a little tense at the start. That shot wasn't really in rhythm. Does he want too badly to show off in front of his old teammates? But this matchup is clearly favorable for him! It would be a shame to sub him out. Better give Kogure more chances." Seeing Kogure struggling with his shot, Moriyama considered making an adjustment, but the gap was still small, so he abandoned the idea.

"Kogure, settle down. Find the best opportunity! I'll definitely get it back to you!" Fujima still encouraged Kogure as they ran back on defense.

"Sorry..." Kogure was never one for many words. He stared intently at Miyagi.

Miyagi and Akagi ran another pick-and-roll. Akagi once again completely screened Kogure, but this time Kubofuji did not dare leave Miyagi open for another jumper. He stepped away from the basket and got into position early, but Miyagi seemed accustomed to this rhythm and once again raised up as if for a pull-up jumper.

"You're too arrogant!!" Kubofuji leaped high, trying to block Miyagi.

"What?!" Kubofuji suddenly noticed something wrong with Miyagi's eyes. Just moments ago, Miyagi had been staring at the basket, but his gaze suddenly dropped downward.

As Miyagi's eyes lowered, his arms suddenly swung down as well, and he passed the ball into the paint.

"Damn it!!" Though Kubofuji realized he had been fooled, the pass was too fast for him to stop.

"Bang!" The ball reached Rukawa Kaede, who had cut into the paint. Though Fujima had not lost position, they were already under the basket, and Rukawa Kaede's height advantage was fully on display! Before Kubofuji could rotate back to help, Rukawa Kaede used his body to pin Fujima down and forced up a Bank Shot. Fujima did not foul to stop him, and after bouncing around the rim a few times, the ball dropped in.

"It looks like the Jaguars drilled this Miyagi-Akagi pick-and-roll over and over before the game. They had already considered what to do whenever the defense changed. On that play, Kubofuji stepped up high, so Rukawa Kaede decisively cut into the paint. Miyagi also knew Rukawa Kaede would be there, which was why he sold that shooting fake so convincingly. Omoki is no simple coach. This team must have put in a lot of work over the summer. No wonder they dragged the Deer Horns into overtime! These Jaguars have real strength!!" Coach Moriyama was getting impatient as the Jaguars scored again and again, but he still trusted Fujima's ability and did not call a timeout.

"Keep up this kind of defense, everyone!! Get one more stop!" Miyagi had been extremely active since the opening, with four points and one assist, breathing life into the entire team. Even on defense, he kept calling out to his teammates.

Fujima took the ball. This time, he did not spend long surveying the floor and drove straight at Rukawa Kaede.

Rukawa Kaede was extremely fast, but Fujima's center of gravity was lower. With their speed roughly equal, Fujima still gained the first step. Seeing this, Akagi immediately came over to help, but Fujima did not slow down. He had lost his angle, though, and was forced to kick the ball out. Yet somehow, the pass slipped through the gap between three Jaguars defenders and reached Kogure in the corner beyond the arc. Perhaps because he had missed his previous two shots, Kogure was clearly hesitant this time. Even with no one guarding him, he took one dribble, adjusted for a moment, then shot.

"Clang!" The ball struck the front of the rim again. Completely wide open, Kogure still could not make it.

Three three-point attempts to start the game, all misses. Kogure really did not seem to be in form.

Although Fujiwara once again guessed where the rebound would fall, there were too many Jaguars under the basket. After several tussles, Sakuragi pulled the ball into his arms.

Miyagi pushed the ball upcourt again!

Akagi came up for another screen. This Jaguars play worked every time.

But this time, Akagi and Miyagi exchanged a look. After setting the screen, Akagi suddenly rolled to the basket, while Kubofuji, who had stepped up to defend Miyagi's shot, moved out. One went in while the other came out, creating a perfect opening. Miyagi immediately bounced a pass through, and the two completed the pick-and-roll with perfect understanding. So their earlier eye contact had been a signal!

With no one guarding the basket after the catch, Akagi sprang off both feet and threw down a classic Gorilla Dunk!!

"Beautiful!!! Gorilla!!! We finally got to see the Gorilla Dunk again!!!" Sakuragi was beside himself with excitement.

"Idiot, why are you staring at me? Get back on defense!" Akagi remained highly focused.

"Tweet! The Flying Waves request a timeout!"

8: The Jaguars had made all four of their opening possessions, while the Flying Waves had watched Kogure clang three shots off the rim.

After Akagi's dunk, Flying Waves head coach Moriyama finally could not sit still. The offense failing to score might have simply been an issue of cold shooting at the start, but the team's defense was something Moriyama could not tolerate. They had no answer for the same pick-and-roll over and over, and they had already been dragged into the Jaguars' rhythm! From the looks of it, the Jaguars were playing more like the Flying Waves.

"Everyone has performed extremely well. Keep it up, make sure to control the rebounds, and do not blindly push for fast breaks!" Perhaps even Coach Omoki had not expected his team to play so smoothly right from the start. The points he emphasized were really just about maintaining this rhythm and cutting down on mistakes!

"Kogure, don't rush. If your shot isn't falling, pass more, but when you're open, you still have to shoot. Fujima, if you think it's right, use some of your individual ability. We need to help the team find its scoring touch first. As for their pick-and-roll..." Moriyama began carefully explaining once again how to break up Miyagi and Akagi's pick-and-roll.

The Flying Waves truly were in serious trouble now. Just as Moriyama had said, this was when Fujima needed to step up!

After the timeout, neither side made any substitutions. The Flying Waves had the ball.

The Flying Waves did indeed change tactics this time, bringing Fujiwara up to the free-throw line to facilitate the offense. The sight reminded Coach Omoki of the previous game, when Fujiwara and Swift had completed an alley-oop.

It's up to you, Sakuragi! Coach Omoki silently prayed.

After watching for a while, Fujiwara indeed "tossed" the ball up!

"It's an alley-oop!!" The commentator could tell what they were trying to do.

The ball soared sharply upward again, then suddenly began to fall... no!!!

"Ha! Watch my genius aerial interception!!"

Sakuragi leaped high and actually stole the ball when it was nearly at its apex! The ball had been almost level with the top edge of the square on the backboard!

"Th-this guy... what kind of hops are those..." Fujiwara could hardly believe it and froze for a moment.

"Great job, Sakuragi!" Seeing Sakuragi make the steal, Miyagi hurried over to ask for the ball.

"Hahahaha! As long as this genius is here, don't even think about trying any alley-oops!" Sakuragi's boasting came right along with his steal!

After the timeout, the Flying Waves' offense still came up empty, and the Jaguars launched an attack.

This time, Miyagi did not run a pick-and-roll with Akagi. Instead, he gave the ball to Rukawa Kaede.

Rukawa Kaede motioned for his teammates to clear out. It seemed he wanted to take Fujima one-on-one. Rukawa Kaede used his height advantage to back Fujima down, but Fujima was very strong in his lower body and was not at nearly as much of a disadvantage as expected. Rukawa Kaede could not gain an easy edge.

Fujima braced firmly against Rukawa Kaede's lower body, making it difficult for Rukawa Kaede to back him down. Seeing no opportunity, Rukawa Kaede dribbled laterally and found Mitsui in the corner beyond the arc. Mitsui, tightly guarded by Fujiwara, caught the ball with difficulty and nearly stepped out of bounds. After taking one lateral dribble, he immediately launched a three-pointer!!

"What?! Isn't that too rushed?" Fujiwara had not expected Mitsui to shoot under such suffocating defense! Still, he instinctively raised an arm to contest it!

"Buzzer~~~~swish!" The twenty-four-second shot clock sounded as the three-pointer went in!

Fujiwara had been so focused that he had forgotten there were only four seconds left, so he was still wondering why Mitsui had suddenly shot. But Mitsui's mind was perfectly clear. Keeping an eye on the clock, he nailed that difficult shot.

"Beautiful!! Three!! Hahaha!" Seeing his team get off to such a smooth start, Sakuragi was thrilled even though he had not scored himself.

Mitsui spread his hands innocently and struck a cool pose, as if to say, "I didn't do it on purpose!"

11:! The Jaguars had truly given the Flying Waves a harsh welcome right from the start.

"What a completely unexpected opening!" Even that high-difficulty buzzer-beating three had gone in. Coach Moriyama could only smile bitterly.