Next was Ryota Miyagi, Taoka also set his sights on. But what happened? Miyagi also went to Shohoku, as if it were pre-arranged. Finally, it was Shirasawa's turn. This time, it wasn't Taoka's fault; Taoka thought it over and gave up on him voluntarily.
All things considered, Shohoku really broke Coach Taoka's heart. But now he's come to terms with it, and even feels fortunate that those two didn't come. If he hadn't missed out on Mitsui and Miyagi in succession, he wouldn't have gritted his teeth and gone to Tokyo to bring back the great Akira Sendoh.
Now, comparing them again, Sendoh's talent and strength have long surpassed Mitsui and Miyagi. In Taoka's eyes, Sendoh is the best reward for his hard work over the years. Moreover, the recruitment process went surprisingly smoothly. Sendoh likes freedom and doesn't like being controlled. Ryonan also by the sea, which is simply a paradise for fishing enthusiasts. Taoka hardly had to say a word, and Sendoh came happily.
So, from a certain perspective, today's final can be seen as Taoka settling old scores with Mitsui. His first tactical instruction was to wear down Mitsui, but this wasn't about personal revenge. Moichi Taoka man of principle; he tolerated Sakuragi's "thousand-year kill" back then, so how could he hold a grudge against a player just because of recruitment difficulties? Wearing down Mitsui was simply because he believed it was the most effective strategy to win.
However, Kaede Rukawa didn't seem to approve of his arrangement.
Taoka knew perfectly well that Kaede Rukawa only had eyes for Shirasawa. He might not have cared if Rukawa had wanted a one-on-one fight and been rejected during training camp, but this time was different. This was the Kanagawa final, the best stage for Kaede Rukawa to avenge his previous defeat—the middle school final, where he had been defeated by Shirasawa in 50 seconds.
" Rukawa," Taoka saw through his thoughts and said, "I'll give you time to face Shirasawa, but only if we make sure the team wins. You don't want to lose to him in the finals again, do you?"
Kaede Rukawa frowned slightly upon hearing this, but remained silent.
Taoka pressed his advantage. " Mitsui is no pushover; he's got a lot on both offense and defense. If you take him down first, Shirasawa won't sit still and will come looking for you."
Kaede Rukawa remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded. Taoka's last words had struck a chord with him; he absolutely did not want to lose to Shirasawa again.
beep--!
The referee blew his whistle, signaling the starters for both teams to enter the game.
"Let's go, Ryonan!"
"Come on!!"
Amidst the deafening roar, the ten players took their positions. Ryonan's starting lineup remained unchanged: Jun Uozumi, Ryoji Ikegami, Kaede Rukawa, Akira Sendoh, and Hiroaki Koshino. Just as Coach Anzai had predicted, they were missing a true power forward.
In the center circle, Takenori Akagi and Jun Uozumi stood facing each other, their knees bent, their fingertips almost touching. The battle for the title of Kanagawa's best center began with this jump.
The referee tossed the ball into the air.
Both teams' substitutes stood up.
Akagi and Uozumi roared and leaped up at the same time, their momentum astonishing!
Snap!
Akagi flicked the ball away with a slight advantage.
But the ball was flicked a bit too high, the trajectory was flat and high.
Kaede Rukawa instantly sped forward, attempting to intercept him in mid-air.
Almost simultaneously, another red figure shot in like a cannonball!
It's Hanamichi Sakuragi!
Both of them leaped into the air at the same time, their arms reaching for the basketball.
"Mine--!"
Sakuragi let out a strange cry, his amazing speed allowing him to slightly outpace Kaede Rukawa and snatch the ball into his arms.
"Well done, Sakuragi!"
The Shohoku bench erupted in jubilation as they secured possession of the ball at the start of the game.
Uozumi's eye twitched slightly. He had to get back at this opening.
Shirasawa received the pass, advanced past half-court, and initiated Shohoku's first attack.
The moment he received the ball, the reactions from the two stands were completely different. Shohoku supporters immediately chanted his name in unison; while Ryonan fans erupted in a huge chorus of boos. They remembered that "throat-slitting" gesture and were just waiting for revenge today.
This was the first time Shirasawa had ever been greeted with such a large-scale booing since he started playing basketball, and even the cheers from his own fans couldn't drown it out.
Just as Shirasawa dribbled past the center line, Akira Sendoh was already waiting at the top of the arc, watching him with a smile.
Ryonan adopted a half-court man-to-man defense.
Koshino- road relentlessly clung to Ryota Miyagi, Ryoji Ikegami stuck to Hanamichi Sakuragi like Sticky Candy, and Jun Uozumi and Takenori Akagi it out under the basket, the sounds of muscles colliding echoing.
Kaede Rukawa stayed right next to Hisashi Mitsui.
Ryonan's defense was noticeably more aggressive than in the Kainan game.
Especially targeting Mitsui and Sakuragi.
Kaede Rukawa is different from Jin or Tadashi Muto. He has an all-around physical advantage over Mitsui, with superior speed, strength, and height.
This made Mitsui's start feel like a marathon, constantly having to maneuver around cover and change positions.
Sakuragi's side isn't having an easy time either. Ryoji Ikegami is, after all, a third-year student at Ryonan and is known as the top defensive player in Kanagawa.
This guy's talent isn't actually top-tier.
However, instead of practicing three-pointers like Tomokazu Godai or Miyamasu, he devoted himself to the art of defense.
Ikegami believes that defense is the most practical thing to do on the court, and whether you are good or bad at it is often not reflected in the statistics.
For the past three years, he has spent every day either practicing defensive footwork or in the weight room.
Let technology and strength be combined into one.
In the Ryonan team's bench press test, Ikegami's score was second only to Uozumi.
The total weight is actually not much different.
If we disregard the difference in height and weight, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Ikegami is the strongest player in Ryonan.
Moichi Taoka particularly valued his defensive skills, and as a way of encouraging him, he kept the vice-captain position for him.
Right now, Ikegami against Sakuragi, and he's not at all outmatched in terms of strength.
Sakuragi was clearly struggling to get a better position from him.
Coupled Ikegami Ikegami's seasoned defensive experience and skills, Moichi Taoka watched from the sidelines nodding in approval, already concluding in his mind. " Sakuragi is completely shut down today."
Shirasawa quickly scanned the situation on the field.
He then turned his attention back to the basketball in his hands.
The man before us, Akira Sendoh, is no pushover.
It seems no one has ever seen Sendoh fully unleash his power.
In this respect, he is somewhat similar to Shirasawa himself.
In Shirasawa's view, it's really hard to estimate just how strong the Immortal Sendoh is.
But one thing is certain: in terms of all-around offensive and defensive capabilities, he is definitely superior to Fujima and Kaede Rukawa.
He's roughly on par with Maki, but if we disregard strength, Sendoh might have a slight edge.
But for Shirasawa himself... the Sendoh? He's probably still a bit lacking.
Shirasawa and Sendoh faced off at the top of the arc.
The expressions on the faces of the two women on the sidelines, to some extent, foreshadowed the outcome of the match in their minds.
Yayoi Aida's face was tense, her eyes fixed on the court.
In her mind, the title of "strongest" in the Sendoh is probably questionable.
The question mark is because there are still a few people who are qualified to be his formidable rivals.
For example, there's Shirasawa, Eiji Sawakita, and even Dai Moroboshi.
These people are all capable of causing great trouble for the Sendoh.
Sanae, however, is a different story.
She looked at Shirasawa with a relaxed expression, a smile playing on her lips, as if she were admiring her beloved's performance.
In her heart, Shirasawa is the strongest!
No matter who comes, it's no use!
The difference in their attitudes towards this duel is immediately apparent.
On the court, Shirasawa dribbled the ball steadily.
Seizing the moment when the Sendoh's center of gravity subtly shifted, he suddenly took a step and launched himself into motion!
This move is not only fast, but its explosive power is also terrifying.
Sendoh was clearly caught off guard and was instantly overtaken by half a body length.
This is different from Shinichi Maki's style of using physical strength to crush opponents.
Shirasawa is completely unreasonable!
They won't make any physical contact with you; they'll just eat you alive using pure speed and explosive power!
"Too fast! Shirasawa's first step!" Hikoichi Aida exclaimed from the sidelines.
However, Sendoh was not completely out of position. He turned halfway around and chased after him, trying to make up for his earlier carelessness.
Shirasawa drove to the three-point line and then suddenly pulled the ball back and stopped abruptly.
Sendoh braked suddenly, his sneakers screeching against the floor, bringing him to a sharp stop.
Just then--
Shirasawa pulled the ball back and handed it to his left hand. His eyes were fixed on Sendoh, and he made a move to accelerate again, but suddenly his wrist flicked and he flung the ball away!
The basketball grazed Sendoh's calf; he saw it, but his body couldn't react in time.
The ball bounced off the ground and landed perfectly in the hands of Takenori Akagi, who was turning and positioning himself under the basket!
Akagi catches the ball and immediately rises, supporting Uozumi his right arm while holding the ball in his left hand, ready to pass it upwards.
The entire Shohoku bench clenched their fists, waiting for their captain to put the ball in the basket so they could celebrate!
But the Uozumi shattered their beautiful dream.
Pressed down by Akagi, he twisted his body forcefully in mid-air, even at the cost of losing his balance.
He turned to the side, taking advantage of his wingspan, and slapped the ball the instant Akagi released his shot!
Akagi's hook shot missed, and the basketball flew through the air between the two players' hands.
"Good shot! Captain Uozumi!"
"Well done!"
The Ryonan bench immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Moichi Taoka smiled with satisfaction.
Uozumi's defensive play wasn't so much about his superior technique, but rather his fighting spirit!
Even if it falls apart, I have to stop Akagi!
This is exactly what Taoka wanted to see, and exactly what the entire Ryonan team needed.
If the captain is working this hard, what reason do the other team members have not to work even harder!
Thump!
Takenori Akagi landed.
Uozumi, however, lost his balance and landed on one foot, staggering back several steps.
The basketball was still in mid-air, and Ryoji Ikegami's Ryoji Ikegami veins were bulging as he desperately held Sakuragi behind him.
Akagi's eyes widened in anger, and he tried to jump again.
But he jumped again, a beat too late. Sendoh had already swept past him, soaring through the air towards the basketball.
Akagi mustered all his strength and jumped, desperately reaching upwards with his fingertips.
But just as he and Sendoh were about to touch the ball—
An arm suddenly shot out from the side and snatched the ball away!
The two of them froze in shock.
Akagi recognized the hand, Sendoh recognized the person.
It's Shirasawa!
Shirasawa grabbed the ball and didn't adjust at all. Using the momentum, he twisted his waist in the air and flicked his wrist to throw the ball towards the basket.
Swish.
The ball went into the net cleanly.
Shohoku scored their first point amidst the chaos.
Although it was just a putback, the process was thrilling enough that the cheers from the stands almost lifted the roof off.
The Ryonan fans, on the other hand, were gritting their teeth in frustration.
"Beautiful!" Akagi shouted to Shirasawa, but his eyes were fixed on Uozumi.
The meaning couldn't be clearer: Try to defend against me? It's useless!
Sendoh clicked his tongue as he retreated to defend, "This explosive power... is completely different from what it looks like."
Kaede Rukawa walked past him, leaving behind the comment. "He's got plenty of skills, if he's not good enough, I'll take his place."