The Hakata Commercial players froze after losing the defensive rebound, especially Haruhiko Kitajima, who had just double-teamed Kudo and was about to return to guard Kaede Rukawa.
He saw that Ryota Kudo no longer had the ball. Going over to double-team him again would have been excessive and foolish.
So he immediately turned, ready to close out on Kaede Rukawa, who had just missed.
But he had absolutely no idea how Hanamichi Sakuragi's mind worked!
Unless they were in dire straits or the coach had given strict orders, getting Sakuragi to pass willingly to Kaede Rukawa was next to impossible!
Even though Tetsuya Takao was still sticking close to Ryota Kudo, Hanamichi Sakuragi did not even look toward Kaede Rukawa after grabbing the rebound. He simply roared:
"Kudo! Catch!" He hurled the ball toward Ryota Kudo's general vicinity!
Ryota Kudo reacted extremely quickly. First, he made discreet body contact with Takao to create a sliver of space, then judged where the ball would land, leaped high, and gathered it securely into his arms in midair!
"Damn it!" Haruhiko Kitajima, who had only made it halfway back, immediately hit the brakes at the sight. Abandoning Kaede Rukawa again, he rushed toward Ryota Kudo to try to restore the double-team!
Facing the renewed defensive pressure, Ryota Kudo's expression did not change in the slightest. He did not even take another dribble.
He raised his hand again and flicked his wrist. Like an obedient sprite, the basketball once more flew accurately into the hands of Kaede Rukawa, who had just moved to the opposite wing at a forty-five-degree angle and been left open again!
This time, Kaede Rukawa did not waste the opportunity.
He caught the ball, adjusted, jumped, and released in one fluid motion, his cold gaze locked on the basket!
Swish!