Chapter Summaries

Chi Tong stole the ball from Sun Zhongkuan and raced downcourt, while Nomoto Risan realized Ryonan had controlled the game through a carefully laid plan. Chi Tong’s dunk put Ryonan ahead 87–65, leaving Mingpeng Industrial demoralized as Ryonan continued to tighten its defense.

• Chi Tong flicked the ball out of Sun Zhongkuan’s hands, recovered it, and sped toward Mingpeng Industrial’s half.
• Sun Zhongkuan chased Chi Tong but fell farther behind, while Mingpeng Industrial’s players watched in disbelief.
• Nomoto Risan realized Ryonan had exploited Mingpeng Industrial’s carelessness and fatigue as part of a deliberate strategy.
• Chi Tong dunked to make the score Ryonan 87, Meipeng Industrial High School 65, widening the lead to twenty-two points.
• Ryonan kept restricting Mingpeng Industrial’s movement as the game continued, and the crowd’s hopes of a comeback faded.

Ryonan overwhelmed Mingpeng Industrial High School and won 105–71, securing a place in the semifinals. After the game, Shohoku and Hainan watched Chi Tong with awe and unease as Rukawa's competitive drive grew.

• Ryonan kept scoring while Mingpeng Industrial High School struggled to answer, and the exhausted team fell further behind.
• With five minutes left, Morishige Hiroshi collided with Yu Zhu and fell, unable to break through Ryonan's defense.
• The final whistle ended the game with Ryonan defeating Mingpeng Industrial High School 105–71.
• Ryonan's victory sparked loud cheers and astonished spectators, who marveled that a first-time National Tournament team had beaten a semifinalist by 31 points.
• Mumu Gongyan and Mitsui Hisashi praised Chi Tong's court control, while Rukawa watched him with renewed fighting spirit and Kiyota Nobunaga tried to hide his shock.

Ryonan’s 31-point victory over Mingpeng Industrial sent them to the National Tournament semifinals and revealed Chi Tong’s control of the game to their rivals. Sannoh left wary and eager for a future matchup, while Mingpeng’s coach urged his defeated players to learn from the loss and return stronger next year.

• Jin Soichiro and Mu Shenyi recognized Ryonan’s victory as the result of Chi Tong’s skill and strategy, while Sannoh’s players realized he had controlled the match from the start.
• Sawakita Eiji praised Chi Tong and anticipated facing him, while Sannoh’s players left the arena discussing their next opponents and warning each other not to underestimate Ryonan.
• Chi Tong and the Ryonan team celebrated their 31-point win and advance to the semifinals, while coach Tiangang Maoyi felt relief and pride.
• Takeuchi Yusi, Morishige Hiroshi, and the other Mingpeng Industrial players sat in silence, devastated by their loss.
• Yeben Lisan encouraged Mingpeng Industrial to accept the defeat, train hard, and return next year to win back what they had lost.

After Ryonan defeated Meipeng Industrial to reach the national final four, its players discussed Shohoku’s upcoming game against Hakata Commercial High School. Chi Tong led the team to watch the match, where several other powerhouse teams had also gathered, and the players emerged as tip-off approached.

• Ryonan completed its victory over Meipeng Industrial and advanced to the national final four.
• Yueye Hongming, Shishang Liang'er, Xiangtian Yanyi, Uekusa Tomoyuki, and Sendoh debated whether Shohoku could beat Hakata Commercial High School and whether Sakuragi Hanamichi would cause trouble.
• Chi Tong agreed to take Ryonan to watch Shohoku’s match after the team changed, wanting to assess Shohoku’s development and avoid underestimating it.
• Chi Tong led Ryonan through the crowded stands at Hiroshima Central Gymnasium, where players from Hainan, Sannoh Industrial High School, Meihou Industrial, and other teams had gathered.
• Shohoku’s and Hakata Commercial High School’s players emerged from the tunnel as the packed crowd turned its attention to the court.

Shohoku faced Hakata Commercial High School and was immediately overwhelmed by the opponents’ powerful center and quick point guard. Hakata’s opening attack reached the right wing as Shohoku’s defense scrambled to form.

• Shohoku and Hakata Commercial High School took the court, with Akagi facing Hakata’s number 4 center for the opening tip.
• Hakata’s center leaped far above Akagi and tipped the ball to his team, stunning Shohoku’s players.
• Hakata’s point guard received the ball and beat Miyagi Ryota with a quick change of direction.
• As Shohoku’s defense struggled to get set, Hakata’s point guard passed to his shooting guard on the right wing.

Hakata Commercial High School scored with a swift, coordinated attack, exposing Shohoku’s defensive and physical weaknesses in the opening seconds. Shohoku’s players and Ayako recognized the pressure of facing a seasoned national semifinalist as Hakata retreated on defense.

• Hakata Commercial High School’s small forward drove past Rukawa Kaede, then passed to the center when Akagi moved to stop him.
• Hakata Commercial High School’s center overpowered Sakuragi Hanamichi and dunked, putting his team ahead 2–0 after eight seconds.
• Gongcheng Liangtian, Rukawa, Akagi, and Sakuragi each reacted to the opponents’ speed, skill, or strength, with Akagi resolving to fight back.
• Ayako realized that Hakata Commercial High School’s coordinated play and experience made the national semifinalist a formidable opponent.
• Yohei Mito warned the Sakuragi Gang that Shohoku could be in serious trouble if Hakata kept playing this way.

Shohoku answered Hakata Commercial High School’s opening basket with a quick three-pointer, then kept the game close through coordinated play. Hakata Commercial High School identified Sakuragi Hanamichi’s inexperience and Miyagi Ryota’s height as weaknesses and began targeting them, disrupting Shohoku’s defense.

• Akagi calmed Shohoku after Hakata Commercial High School scored and told his teammates to slow the pace and tighten their defense.
• Miyagi Ryota led a fast break, passed to Liu Chuanfeng, and helped set up Mitsui Hisashi’s three-pointer, putting Shohoku ahead 3-2.
• Shohoku and Hakata Commercial High School traded baskets as Akagi, Liu Chuanfeng, Mitsui Hisashi, Miyagi Ryota, and Sakuragi Hanamichi contributed on offense.
• Hakata Commercial High School adjusted its strategy and identified Sakuragi Hanamichi and Miyagi Ryota as Shohoku’s vulnerabilities.
• Hakata Commercial High School baited Sakuragi Hanamichi into reckless steal attempts, causing fouls and openings in Shohoku’s defense.

Hakata Commercial High School exploited Sakuragi Hanamichi's inexperience and Miyagi Ryota's height disadvantage to disrupt Shohoku, and Coach Anzai's conservative adjustments failed to stop the lead from growing. With the score at 37-22 midway through the first half, Shohoku remained trapped in a worsening predicament.

• Hakata Commercial High School targeted Sakuragi Hanamichi and Miyagi Ryota while its zone defense prevented Mitsui Hisashi and Rukawa from helping, leaving Akagi overwhelmed and Shohoku's defense in disarray.
• Coach Anzai called a timeout and told Shohoku to slow its offense, avoid unnecessary contact, and limit Miyagi's drives.
• Shohoku followed the instructions, but Hakata Commercial High School adjusted its defense, contested shots, and scored repeatedly on fast breaks.
• Hakata Commercial High School extended its lead to 37-22 with more than half of the first half gone.
• Ryonan's players discussed Shohoku's struggles as Sento worried the team might not adjust before halftime.

Hakata Commercial High School exploited its size to score a dunk against Shohoku, but Miyagi Ryota launched a fast break and passed to Rukawa Kaede. Rukawa broke through two defenders, then passed behind his back to Akagi when Hakata’s center blocked his layup, leaving Shohoku poised to attack.

• Hakata Commercial High School’s point guard passed over Miyagi Ryota, and its center dunked while the power forward held Akagi back.
• Miyagi Ryota raced up the court after the score and passed to Liu Chuanfeng as Shohoku counterattacked.
• Liu Chuanfeng dribbled past two Hakata Commercial High School defenders and drove toward the basket.
• Hakata Commercial High School’s center blocked Liu Chuanfeng’s route, so Liu Chuanfeng passed behind his back to Akagi.

Hakata Commercial High School widened its lead over Shohoku to nearly thirty points, but Shohoku rallied late in the first half as Rukawa and Mitsui sparked the team’s offense. The chapter ended with Mitsui hitting a three-pointer as Shohoku began to fight back.

• Hakata Commercial High School's small forward intercepted Rukawa's pass and led a fast break that ended with its shooting guard scoring to make the score 42–22.
• Aida Hikohiko, Uekusa Zhizhi, and Yueye Hongming worried that Shohoku might lose, while Chi Tong and Sento said the team could draw strength from pressure.
• Hakata Commercial High School extended its lead past twenty-five points as its players grew careless, but Shohoku rallied with two minutes left in the first half.
• Rukawa drove through Hakata Commercial High School's defense and dunked, lifting Shohoku's morale.
• Mitsui Hisashi shook off his defender and made a three-pointer, continuing Shohoku's late surge.

Shohoku rallied late in the first half against Hakata Commercial High School, with Akagi, Sakuragi Hanamichi, Miyagi Ryota, and Mitsui Hisashi combining to cut the deficit to nineteen points. At halftime, Ryonan praised Shohoku’s potential while Sannoh Industrial High School doubted the comeback would last, and reporter Qu Shendai Liu Fei kept filming Chi Tong.

• Miyagi Ryota fooled Hakata Commercial High School’s point guard and passed to Akagi, who dunked powerfully.
• Sakuragi Hanamichi leapt over Hakata Commercial High School’s players to grab a rebound and launched a long pass to Miyagi Ryota.
• Miyagi Ryota passed to Mitsui Hisashi, who made a three-pointer as the first-half whistle sounded, leaving Shohoku behind 54–35.
• Xiangtian Yanyi and Shishang Liang'er reacted with surprise to Shohoku’s comeback, while Chi Tong calmly said the team’s resurgence had been inevitable.
• Sannoh Industrial High School’s players discussed Shohoku’s resilience but expected Hakata Commercial High School to prevail if it showed its full strength.
• Reporter Qu Shendai Liu Fei kept his camera trained on Chi Tong in the stands.

Shohoku battled Hakata Commercial High School in the second half, steadily overcoming a nineteen-point deficit as the game grew increasingly tense. Hakata Commercial High School called a timeout when the lead shrank to ten, but their situation did not improve afterward.

• Shendai Liufei focused her camera on Chi Tong while Mukai Yayo documented the game and arena.
• Hakata Commercial High School opened the second half with a fast attack, and their center dunked over Akagi.
• Miyagi Ryota, Mitsui Hisashi, and Akagi answered with a quick counterattack that ended in Akagi's hook shot.
• Shohoku matched Hakata Commercial High School's scoring as Liu Chuanfeng, Mitsui Hisashi, Miyagi Ryota, and Akagi each contributed.
• Shohoku cut its nineteen-point deficit to ten by the midpoint of the second half, prompting Hakata Commercial High School to call a timeout.
• Hakata Commercial High School's coach stressed defensive tactics during the timeout, but the team's situation did not improve afterward.

Shohoku overcame Hakata Commercial High School’s lead with Sakuragi Hanamichi’s defense and scoring, then pulled ahead in the closing minutes. Rukawa’s final dunk secured a 96–86 victory and sent Shohoku to the final four.

• Sakuragi Hanamichi blocked Hakata Commercial High School’s attacks, scored in unusual ways, and made both free throws after drawing a foul.
• Akagi tied the game in the final three minutes, and Liu Chuanfeng scored off Miyagi Ryota’s pass to put Shohoku ahead.
• Rukawa and Akagi stopped Hakata Commercial High School’s desperate attack, and Mitsui Hisashi extended Shohoku’s lead with a three-pointer.
• Sakuragi Hanamichi grabbed the rebound after Hakata Commercial High School’s center missed a dunk and passed to Miyagi Ryota to start a counterattack.
• Rukawa dunked past Hakata Commercial High School’s center, widening Shohoku’s lead to ten points with fewer than thirty seconds remaining.
• Shohoku defeated Hakata Commercial High School 96–86, and the players celebrated their victory.

After Shohoku defeated Hakata Shodai, both Shohoku and Lin Nan reached the national semifinals, drawing attention as first-time dark horses. On semifinal day, the teams and spectators gathered in Hiroshima, and Lin Nan’s players discussed the morning matchup between Sannoh and Kainan on their way to the gym.

• Shohoku defeated Hakata Shodai by ten points and advanced to the national final four.
• The tournament’s two established final-four teams fell, shifting media and fan attention to Lin Nan and Shohoku.
• The semifinal schedule set Sannoh Industrial High School against Kainan University Affiliated High School in the morning and Lin Nan High School against Shohoku High School in the afternoon.
• Spectators, reporters, and players from eliminated teams gathered at Hiroshima Central Gymnasium for the semifinal games.
• As Lin Nan traveled to the gym, Xiangtian Yanyi asked who would win the morning game, and Ikegami Ryo 2 confidently predicted Sannoh would beat Hainan again.

Ryonan and Shohoku arrived at the gym to watch Sannoh face Kainan, with both teams considering the challenges ahead. Chi Tong’s confidence steadied Ryonan, while Shohoku prepared to face Ryonan that afternoon.

• Yueye Hongming and Sento judged Sannoh overwhelming favorites, but Chi Tong said neither Sannoh nor Kainan could stop Ryonan from advancing.
• Chi Tong led Ryonan into the crowded gym, where spectators recognized the team and praised its recent success.
• Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi noted that Ryonan had come to scout its likely next opponent and said Shohoku should study the game as well.
• Ayako asked whether Shohoku could defeat Ryonan, and Akagi and Sakuragi urged the team to face whichever opponent came next.
• Rukawa watched Chi Tong from across the stands and kept his fighting spirit in check, knowing they would meet on the court that afternoon.

Sannoh Industrial High School and Kainan University Affiliated High School entered the National Tournament semifinal after a tense warm-up and faced off at center court. The opening tip-off began in a deadlock, and the centers leaped again to contest the ball.

• Sannoh and Kainan entered the arena and exchanged a tense glance before heading to their benches.
• Maki Shinichi, Aota Nobunaga, and Jin warmed up for Kainan while Sawakita Eiji sank a casual three-pointer for Sannoh.
• The players took their places at center court, and the referee blew the whistle to start the semifinal.
• Both centers struck the basketball at once, and their first jump-ball contest ended in a deadlock.
• The centers leaped again and hit the descending ball simultaneously, changing the situation.

Sannoh took the opening possession against Hainan and scored a three-pointer within five seconds. Hainan stayed composed as the game continued.

• Sannoh's center redirected the jump ball toward his own half, giving Sannoh possession.
• Hainan quickly fell back into a prepared defensive formation, while the spectators analyzed Sannoh's center's clever tip.
• Sannoh's point guard controlled the ball patiently and evaded Maki Shinichi's defensive pressure with a step-back move.
• Sannoh's point guard passed to the shooting guard, who caught the ball under pressure from Jin Soichiro and immediately shot from beyond the arc.
• The shot went in, putting Sannoh Industrial High School ahead of Hainan 3–0 with barely five seconds elapsed.
• Hainan's players remained calm despite Sannoh's quick opening score.

Hainan and Sannoh traded baskets in a fiercely contested game, with Sawakita Eiji demonstrating his skill and Maki Shinichi directing Hainan’s offense. Jin Soichiro launched an open shot for Hainan, and the chapter ended before its result was revealed.

• Maki Shinichi passed to Kiyota Nobunaga, who nearly lost the ball to Sawakita Eiji before passing to Jin Soichiro.
• Jin Soichiro passed inside to Takasago Kazuma, who scored Hainan’s basket.
• Sannoh and Hainan exchanged scores, keeping the gap within three points.
• Sannoh’s point guard passed to Sawakita Eiji, who broke past defenders and scored.
• Maki Shinichi sped up Hainan’s attack and passed to Jin Soichiro, who took an open shot.

Hainan and Sannoh traded baskets in a fiercely even first-semifinal matchup, with neither team able to take control. As Chi Tong watched calmly from the stands, a familiar voice in his mind claimed Hainan would not hold out much longer, prompting him to demand its purpose.

• Sannoh's center powered past Takasago Kazuma and dunked, but Hainan answered with Jin Soichiro's basket after Maki Shinichi disrupted Sannoh's defense with precise passing.
• Sannoh and Hainan repeatedly scored and defended against each other, reaching a 20-20 tie as the first half continued.
• The players and spectators watched the close contest with mounting tension while Chi Tong observed the game without showing emotion.
• A familiar voice spoke to Chi Tong from within his mind and remarked that Sannoh and Hainan were both strong.
• The voice said Hainan would not hold out much longer, and Chi Tong coldly asked what it was trying to say.

Chi Tong rejected a warning from the voice in his consciousness that Sannoh could overwhelm him through teamwork, insisting he had a trump card. As Sannoh and Hainan battled on court, Sannoh’s point guard blocked Maki Shinichi’s shot and sparked a counterattack.

• The voice in Chi Tong’s consciousness warned that Sannoh could exploit Ryonan’s reliance on him, especially if Sawakita Eiji shut down Sendoh.
• Chi Tong claimed he had prepared a trump card to break Sannoh’s blockade and cut off the voice by erecting a barrier in his mind.
• Chi Tong watched Sannoh and Hainan trade baskets, studying Sannoh’s hidden methods while remaining detached from the game.
• Maki Shinichi drove toward the free-throw line and prepared to shoot, but Sannoh’s point guard sprang in and blocked his attempt.
• Sannoh’s wing recovered the loose ball near the sideline and launched a counterattack.