To be safe, and to protect their hard-won lead, he did not hesitate. At the first opportunity, he passed the ball, giving Chi Tong no chance to steal it.
Fukatsu Kazunari flicked his wrist, sending the basketball flying precisely toward Sawakita Eiji in the distant corner, leaving an orange-yellow streak in its wake.
The timing of the pass had been precisely calculated. He had thought he could safely get the ball out before Chi Tong rushed in front of him and preserve this possession, but on the court, surprises were never in short supply.
When the basketball was halfway there and about to reach Sawakita Eiji's hands, a crimson streak suddenly flashed out from nowhere. It was so fast that it only flickered before Fukatsu Kazunari's startled eyes for an instant, like an illusion.
The next second, a scalp-numbing scene unfolded. The basketball that had been flying toward Sawakita Eiji vanished into thin air the instant the crimson streak swept past it.
Ah!
Not good!
Fukatsu Kazunari's pupils contracted sharply. It felt as though his heart had been ruthlessly clenched, and he cried out in alarm.
He had never imagined that Chi Tong could charge from the defensive area into the middle of the passing lane in such a short time and complete the steal.
Immediately afterward, the dense, dull thuds of a basketball striking the floor erupted in Sannoh Industrial High School's half of the court. The rhythm was incredibly fast, rapidly fading toward the basket.
Each thud landed like a heavy hammer on the hearts of the Sannoh players.
Fukatsu Kazunari immediately whipped around and saw the familiar crimson figure already clutching the intercepted ball, charging toward Sannoh's basket with unstoppable momentum as though no one stood in his way.
Before the Sannoh players could even assume a