Sannoh's players charged toward Hainan's basket, forming a swift offensive surge that crossed half court in the blink of an eye.
Hainan's players hurried back on defense, but Sannoh advanced far too quickly. By the time they got into position, Sannoh was already near the basket.
Sannoh's center received a pass in the paint and faced a double-team from two Hainan defenders without a hint of panic.
He first feinted a drive to the left, drawing the defenders' attention, then flicked his wrist and passed to an open teammate on the right.
The player caught the ball without hesitation and immediately put up a shot. The basketball traced a precise arc through the air and dropped cleanly through the hoop.
With that basket, the score, which had remained neck and neck, finally began to tilt.
From that moment on, Sannoh quietly intensified its efforts on both ends of the court. On offense, the players passed more decisively and drove with greater force. On defense, they stayed closer to their opponents and timed their steals and blocks more precisely.
Hainan's players soon sensed that something was wrong. The pace they had barely managed to keep up with suddenly became difficult to match. Every drive met tighter defense than before. Though the added resistance was not overwhelming, anyone who understood the game could see that the balance on the court had been broken.
"The balance has been broken!"
In the stands, Xiangtian Yanyi could not help exclaiming under her breath, her eyes fixed on the court.
Although her own basketball skills were nothing exceptional, she had a unique gift for analyzing games and picking up on details.
Sitting beside her, Ikegami Ryoji nodded slightly. "Yeah. So Sannoh made the first move after all?"
Sendoh also shed his earlier casual air. His gaze