Ryota Kudo caught Hanamichi Sakuragi's pass, with Eiji Sawakita racing back on defense in front of him.
The two charged toward each other at full speed. Kudo's eyes were cold as he suddenly unleashed an exaggerated Sawakita-style mountain-shaped feint without slowing down.
Sawakita's gaze sharpened. Having his own move turned against him shifted his balance just a fraction.
Kudo seized that fleeting opening, chaining it into Dai Moroboshi's glide step. His body shifted sideways at an uncanny angle, changing direction with a Eurostep to force his way past Sawakita.
Facing Nobe's help defense, Ryota Kudo displayed tremendous core strength and hang time in midair, contorting into an extreme double-clutch, switching hands, and scooping up a layup!
Slap! The shot went in! The whistle blew at the same time! Nobe had fouled his shooting hand! An and-one!
"Tweet! Blue number seven, foul on the shooting hand! The basket counts! One free throw!"
Eiji Sawakita looked at Ryota Kudo with a hint of disbelief, but a second later, a smile spread across his face. "Nicely done, Ryota-chan!"
Kudo calmly sank the free throw. 18-20! Shohoku stayed right on their heels!
Kudo's individual scoring ability and toughness in critical moments made Sannoh take notice, while Masahiro Nobe, who was guarding him, looked utterly grim.
"This guy... is ten times harder to handle than he was on tape!" Nobe rubbed his chest, aching from the collision, his eyes grave.
Watching Kudo's back as he walked to the free-throw line, Sawakita's lips curved with genuine excitement. "Ryota, you really have... gotten more interesting."
The fifteenth minute: Ryota Kudo once again showed why he was an "Offensive Kaleidoscope."
He posted up on the low block and called for the ball. Miyagi immediately lobbed it in, with Masahiro Nobe guarding him.
Kudo backed him down, giving up