At last, just as Zhu Xingda stepped inside the three-point line and was about to attack the paint, Sendoh Akira finally caught up with him through sheer explosiveness. He planted himself firmly right in front of Zhu Xingda, forming a tight defensive stance.
Zhu Xingda did not slow down, his body still poised to charge forward, but his gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Sendoh, who had overtaken him from the side and cut him off.
There was not the slightest hint of panic in his eyes. Instead, they held a trace of scrutiny, as though he were rapidly assessing Sendoh's defensive weaknesses and searching for a chance to break through.
Just as Sendoh Akira and Zhu Xingda were about to enter a head-on showdown, when everyone thought the two would engage in a one-on-one offensive and defensive battle, Zhu Xingda suddenly made an unexpected move. He slammed on the brakes, his shoes leaving two brief streaks across the floor, then quickly stepped back and instantly retreated beyond the three-point line.
Before Sendoh could adjust his defensive position, Zhu Xingda raised the basketball, bent his elbow slightly, and fixed his eyes on Linglan's hoop. He assumed a textbook shooting stance, as if he were about to launch a three-pointer the next second.
Sendoh's heart tightened at the sight. He immediately stepped up, rapidly adjusted his footing, and got directly in front of Zhu Xingda in time.
He raised both arms high, his palms nearly touching Zhu Xingda's shooting hand, trying to completely cut off his shooting lane.
He knew full well that Zhu Xingda's three-point ability meant he could not be given even the slightest easy look.
Yet what happened in the next moment completely surpassed Sendoh's expectations.
Just as Zhu Xingda's arms were about to exert force and