Ryonan's bench erupted in an instant, cheers rising one after another like a tsunami sweeping across the entire backcourt.
Tiangang Maoyi stood at the sideline, watching his team securely claim the first point at the opening. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, satisfaction flashing in his eyes as he gave a gentle nod.
Chi Tong remained seated calmly in the rest area, arms folded across his chest and back straight, like an unmoving statue.
His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, sweeping back and forth across the court as he coolly tracked every player's positioning, movements, details, and shifts in rhythm.
He neither cheered for a defensive stop nor reacted to a score, because in his eyes, the game had only just begun.
On the court, Shohoku swiftly launched a counterattack. The ball was pushed quickly into the frontcourt, moved crisply once, and finally fed into the paint.
Akagi held the ball with his back to the basket, planted firmly in Ryonan's restricted area as he faced Uozumi head-on. The two centers stood opposed like towering mountains, muscles taut and auras surging. The air seemed to freeze in that instant as every eye in the arena locked onto this clash, hailed as Kanagawa's greatest matchup of big men.
Uozumi spread his arms wide and held his position, letting out a deep roar that boomed like thunder. Akagi!
Akagi raised an eyebrow, his eyes turning fierce. He suddenly drove with his shoulders and back, feinting a powerful turnaround as if he were about to force his way through with brute strength.
Everyone held their breath, convinced an earth-shaking clash of strength and will was about to erupt.
But at that critical moment, Takenori Akagi suddenly shifted, spinning with a lifelike feint!
Uozumi's center of gravity twitched in response. Then Akagi flicked his wrist, sending the basketball streaking sideways like lightning into Kogure Megane's hands beyond the three-point line.
Uozumi's pupils contracted sharply. He had never expected Akagi to pass out from so close beneath the basket—and with such impeccable timing!
Yet in the split second that Kogure caught the ball, raised his arms, and jumped to shoot, Uozumi exploded into motion like a tiger unleashed, circling out from behind Akagi in one great stride.
He soared high into the air, his arm thrusting upward like an iron ram, carrying an untouchable force as it smashed down.
With a thunderous block, he swatted the basketball flying away.
A crisp, explosive smack rang out over the entire gymnasium like a clap of thunder.
Uozumi blasted the ball away with overwhelming force, his motion clean and decisive, so powerful it felt as though his palm had split the air itself.
Great block!
Ryonan's players erupted at once, roaring in unison as their morale surged.
Aida Hikohiko's calm reminder rang out just in time. The ball's still live!
Before his words had even faded, Liu Chuanfeng charged in like a cheetah and gained control of the ball ahead of everyone else.
Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his hand and fired a quick pull-up jumper.
Not good!
Ryonan!
Everyone's expressions changed drastically, their hearts tightening at once.
But the instant the ball left his hand, a huge palm swept in from the side like a curtain falling from the sky.
The basketball was blocked solidly, spinning violently through the air as its trajectory changed in an instant.
Liu Chuanfeng's pupils shook, astonishment flashing in his eyes.
The one who stopped him was Uozumi again!
Uozumi, who had just blocked Kogure, had moved several meters sideways in such a short time—and blocked Liu Chuanfeng's shot as well!
The entire arena was in an uproar. Shohoku's players stared wide-eyed, as though they had witnessed something impossible.
He was clearly a giant over two meters tall, yet his footwork was as nimble as a guard's.
But it was not over yet. While everyone was still immersed in shock, an even more jaw-dropping scene unfolded!
The basketball Uozumi had swatted away was cleverly snatched by Shohoku's An Tian Jingchun, who immediately dished it backhanded into the paint.
Akagi caught the ball, clamped it tightly in both hands, turned, and leaped in one smooth motion, preparing to restore his team's morale with an unstoppable slam dunk.
However, just before he could hammer the ball into the rim, a figure burst out again like a ghost!
Uozumi again!
Even after completing two blocks, he had not stopped moving. Like a tireless guardian deity, he leaped high and smashed his huge hand down on the basketball.
The ball was swatted completely away, flying directly out of bounds!
Akagi landed heavily, his arms frozen in midair and his face filled with shock.
He slowly turned his head, staring hard at the newcomer—and there stood Uozumi!
At that moment, the entire arena fell deathly silent.
In those brief dozen seconds, Uozumi had defended against three players in succession, appearing at the most crucial blocking position three times and instantly sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Shohoku's players stared at Uozumi, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Is this Ryonan's strength?
At Shohoku's bench, This is bad, this is bad, old man!
Sakuragi Hanamichi kept pressing one hand against Anxi Guangyi's round belly while tugging and shaking his chubby chin with the other, his tone so anxious that he practically jumped in place.
That monkey-headed guy is a real pain!
His booming voice nearly drowned out the noise on the court, and his eyes were full of alarm.
Ayako rushed over at once and pulled Sakuragi Hanamichi's hand away, speaking with a hint of reproach. Hey, how can you call Coach "old man"?
Show some respect. Call him Coach Anzai properly.
After being pulled away, Sakuragi Hanamichi turned his head with a solemn expression, his tone utterly unlike that of the usual grinning red-haired fool.
This is bad, Ayako. This is too dangerous!
Ayako froze, blinking before her eyes turned round with confusion.
Huh? Why are you so polite to me, but not to Coach?
Geez, I really don't understand you!
On the court, Uozumi stood tall, arms spread wide like a giant tower guarding the paint. His face shone with long-lost confidence and boldness.
His eyes blazed as he swept his gaze over his teammates, his voice loud and powerful.
Come on, let's stop them one more time!
There was not the slightest hesitation in his tone, only ironclad resolve and the bearing of a leader.
Yeah!
Ryonan's players answered in unison, their voices booming like thunder. Their morale was ignited at once, and their shouts echoed through the gymnasium like an invisible storm.
At that moment, with Chi Tong off the court, Uozumi seemed to have become Captain Uozumi once more.
Seeing this, Sakuragi Hanamichi instantly flew into a rage. His brows shot up as he muttered angrily, Monkey-headed bastard!
That guy only blocked Akagi, Liu Chuanfeng, and that gorilla a few times, and he's already acting all damn smug!
Beside him, Kakuta Gatsu folded his arms across his chest, his eyes fixed on the situation on the court as he said gravely, This atmosphere doesn't seem too good.
He paused, a trace of unease in his voice.
Uozumi's fired up, and the others are getting energized along with him. The other substitutes nearby nodded repeatedly.
The moment Sakuragi Hanamichi heard that, it was as though he had found an opening.
He whipped around and slung an arm around Anxi Guangyi's thick neck, practically pressing against that calm face as he shouted, Old man, this is the critical moment! It's time to unleash the secret weapon!
Before his words had even ended, he sprang from his seat like a beast about to be released from its cage and strode toward the court.
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