However, Sannoh's ace, Masashi Kawata, had been utterly enraged!
"Interesting! Akagi! Looks like you really want to wreck that foot!" Battle fire blazed in his eyes as he held a hand out to Fukatsu. "Give me the ball!"
Fukatsu lobbed the ball into the post without hesitation.
Masashi Kawata caught it in the low post, his back against Takenori Akagi!
This time, he did not test him! He drove backward with all his strength!
Akagi grunted. Piercing pain shot through his injured ankle, preventing him from resisting at full strength, and he was driven back step after step!
Kawata seized the opening and spun swiftly to his right. His massive body, backed by overwhelming power, forced Akagi aside as he bulldozed toward the basket like a tank!
Gripping the ball with both hands, he sprang straight up! A thunderous downward strike!
BAM-!!!
The rim groaned in agony! 51-38!
Kawata answered Akagi with a ferocious, powerful dunk!
After landing, he let out a low roar at Akagi, proclaiming his supremacy in the paint!
"Kawata! Kawata! Kawata!" The Sannoh chant rose again.
Takenori Akagi's face was slightly pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead. The searing pain in his ankle left him barely able to stand.
But he gritted his teeth and stayed on his feet, the fire in his eyes blazing even brighter!
Coach Anzai immediately requested a substitution!
Hanamichi Sakuragi replaced the exhausted Satoru Kakuta!
Shohoku's strongest frontcourt was back: Takenori Akagi (C) + Hanamichi Sakuragi (PF) + Ryota Kudo (SF)!
"Sakuragi! Rebounds! Protect the captain!" Ryota Kudo said firmly.
"Leave it to me, Kudo!" Fighting spirit burned in Sakuragi's eyes. "Bald gorilla! This genius is back!"
Shohoku went on offense.
Ryota Kudo held the ball at the top of the arc. Wary of Akagi in the low post, Sannoh's