A Shift in the Situation

He saw it. At the very instant Sakuragi Hanamichi lunged at Chi Tong's right hand, Chi Tong's left hand had already quietly flicked the ball away. It was not an ordinary lateral pass; using the feint as cover, he lifted it with his fingertips, sending it skimming along the floor in a low, rapidly spinning arc.

The force behind it had been controlled with absolute precision.

The ball nearly slid along the hardwood, brushing past Sakuragi Hanamichi's heel, slipping through the gap in the defense and heading straight for the low post.

The timing was even more exquisite. Just as Sakuragi Hanamichi leaned forward and his body blocked his own line of sight, the pass was released. Yueye Hongming also stood in exactly the right spot at the top of the key, his body completely obscuring the passing lane.

This could not be explained by coincidence alone. Every movement, every position, even the opponents' reactions, seemed as though they had all been deliberately arranged.

Anxi Guangyi slowly let out a breath. His voice was low, yet his admiration was impossible to conceal. "Truly remarkable!"

The offense and defense switched, and Shohoku immediately launched a counterattack. The tempo rose sharply, like a drawn bowstring finally released.

After several rapid passes, the ball went from Kogure Kiminobu to Mumu Gongyan, then with another lateral pass, it landed steadily in Liu Chuanfeng's hands.

In an instant, he exploded forward like a cheetah. His gaze was cold as ice, but his movements were swift as the wind. His entire body became a dark blur as he charged from the backcourt into the frontcourt, tearing through the air and driving straight into Ryonan territory.

Sento's eyes narrowed, and he immediately slid over to intercept him, positioning his feet to cut off his driving lane inside