At times, they swung the ball around the perimeter; at others, they cut through the paint, forcing Ryonan's defenders to constantly adjust their positions.
Zhu Xingda in particular kept locking his gaze on Chi Tong, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
In several previous possessions, both his prized pull-up jumper and his favored crossover drives had been completely shut down by Chi Tong's defense.
Chi Tong's defense was like an invisible net. He always anticipated Zhu Xingda's movements, leaving him unable to find even the smallest opening to attack.
Chi Tong stood quietly in front of the three-point line, his gaze calm as still water. Yet even the slightest movement of his feet brought an indescribable pressure upon Zhu Xingda, as though every one of his thoughts had been seen through.
Soon, after several passes, the basketball reached Lei Tianzhenglun.
Holding the ball beyond the three-point line at the right-wing forty-five-degree angle, he kept his eyes fixed on Sendoh in front of him, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Sento maintained a half-step of distance from him, one arm slightly raised, sealing off his shooting lane completely and tightly restricting his angles for a drive as well.
Because of Sendoh's tight defense, Lei Tianzhenglun had no confidence in shooting over him. His earlier attempts to drive had also been easily neutralized.
In the end, his expression shifted. He suddenly lowered his center of gravity and made a quick fake toward the left.
Sento instinctively moved left as expected, trying to cut off his driving lane.
At that very instant, Lei Tianzhenglun sharply flicked his wrist and passed the ball toward Long Zeduo in the paint.
The basketball precisely slipped past the interceptions of two Ryonan defenders, as if it had eyes, and landed steadily in Long Zeduo's hands.