But just as the basketball left his palm, a hand suddenly shot in from the side and swatted at it.
With a sharp smack, the ball was knocked away, flying straight toward Sendoh.
What?
Fukuda Kentai froze in bewilderment, his hands still held in a passing stance, his eyes filled with shock.
The ball hadn't even fully left my hand. How could someone intercept it?
He glanced to the side, and his entire body went rigid.
At some point, Chi Tong had appeared beside him. The ball he had been about to pass had been knocked away by Chi Tong. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his mouth fell open wide enough to fit a fist.
W-when did he get beside me?
His attention had been entirely on Sendoh, and he had never noticed Chi Tong approaching. It was as though the other player had appeared out of thin air. He wanted to think it through, but there was no time.
Sento reacted instantly, catching the ball as it flew toward him. Then he pushed off, easily slipped past the still-dazed Fukuda Kiccho, and charged toward Mingpeng Industrial's basket like a bolt of white lightning.
Damn it!
When Fukuda Kentai snapped out of it, his heart tightened, but his mind went blank for an instant. He had no idea whether to chase Sendoh first or stay where he was and stop Chi Tong.
His mind plunged into utter confusion.
He stood rooted to the spot, watching Sendoh recede into the distance before finally coming to his senses.
Without hesitating any longer, he took off in pursuit.
But it was already too late. Mingpeng Industrial had just inbounded the ball and prepared to attack, so most of its players were moving into offense. The area beneath their basket