Miyagi, Akagi, and Sakuragi were all lagging behind and could only desperately try to catch up. Mitsui, on the other hand, simply turned around slowly, looking like it was none of his business, and strolled back.
Only Shirasawa rushed back like lightning! This was probably the fastest he had ever run in the game, actually overtaking the Three Muskets of Ryonan and retreating to the three-point line first.
A three-on-one fast break situation instantly formed on the court!
Shirasawa stood alone, blocking the way of the Three Muskets in Ryonan.
This incredibly intense match left the entire audience holding their breath.
Three against one sounds unfair, but when that "one" is Shirasawa, no one thinks there's anything wrong with it.
The distance between the two sides closed rapidly.
Fukuda had the ball in the middle, Kaede Rukawa on the left, Sendoh on the right; the three of them formed a sharp arrowhead.
Shirasawa stood firmly on the three-point line, arms outstretched, motionless.
Fukuda glanced left and right, trying to trick Shirasawa into shifting his focus, but the guy opposite him wasn't buying it at all.
In Shirasawa's eyes, Fukuda's little tricks were like a child's game; he had already laid out his trap, just waiting for the other party to fall into it.
Ultimately, Fukuda still hadn't completely shaken off the lingering trauma. Seeing that they were about to collide, he flicked his wrist and quickly passed the ball to Sendoh on his right.
As soon as the ball was released, Fukuda breathed a sigh of relief—it was clearly a three-on-one situation, but Shirasawa had forced him into a chaotic mess.
But at the very same second he passed the ball, Shirasawa also moved!
With a swift movement, Shirasawa had already pounced in front of Sendoh, completely blocking the right flank.
"Good defense!" Shinichi Maki in the audience couldn't help but shout.
With its ability to defend against three attacks, it's already more than enough. If the Sendoh were to pass on another skill, even a god couldn't save them.
Shinichi Maki thought to himself that even if he were to go up there, he probably wouldn't be able to do what Shirasawa did.
After all, what's charging towards them are Ryonan's three sharpest guns!
The way those three charged at each other would make most people's legs go weak.
There's no time for sentimentality on the field.
Sendoh cut across the free-throw line from the right, and Shirasawa was practically glued to his side, his physical strength making it impossible for Sendoh to move in comfortably.
Passing the ball now is too risky; it might get intercepted.
After much thought, I decided to play it safe.
The blame lies with Fukuda for his initial hesitation; otherwise, things would have been so passive.
Sendoh pushed off with his feet and got up to attack the basket!
Shirasawa bent down almost simultaneously, as if he was about to jump and block the shot.
--There's a chance!
Sendoh's eyes lit up; as long as Shirasawa jumped, the ball would be in the bag!
Time was of the essence. Sendoh hooked the ball in mid-air and passed it to Kaede Rukawa, who was following up on the left.
However, Shirasawa, who was supposed to jump up with him, didn't even leave the ground!
"Oh no!"
Sendoh's heart skipped a beat; he had actually been tricked by Shirasawa!
Or rather, Shirasawa had already guessed that he would pass the ball!
Kaede Rukawa receives the ball and gets up to dunk.
Shirasawa leaped up from the spot, raising his right hand high!
Despite facing a 3-on-1 fast break, he single-handedly dragged the game out until the very last moment.
In this final challenge, Kaede Rukawa swung his arm in a wide arc and slammed it towards the basket!
Bang!!
That seemingly inevitable dunk was firmly blocked in mid-air by Shirasawa!
The ball was perfectly positioned between the two men's hands, bobbing up and down without moving an inch.
Keep in mind that Shirasawa jumped from a standing position, while Kaede Rukawa slammed the ball down with the momentum of his sprint.
Moreover, Shirasawa was using his left hand, but he was facing Kaede Rukawa's right hand.
This fast break was unfair from start to finish.
But Shirasawa managed to turn all the injustices around!
Kaede Rukawa's face was bulging with veins, but the difference in strength was too great; he simply couldn't overpower him.
With a powerful flick of his arm, Shirasawa sent the ball flying!
He personally ended a 3-on-1 fast break.
Nobody cares where the ball ends up anymore.
The three gunners from Ryonan stood frozen in place, all staring at Shirasawa as if he were a monster.
They had never seen such defense in their entire lives!
The fans of Shohoku were practically screaming themselves hoarse. Shirasawa had accomplished the impossible right before their eyes.
Seeing such a scene is a rare treat, and you're unlikely to encounter it again.
But once it happened, it became a legend.
The three people that Ryonan was most proud of were reduced to background figures tonight.
"The game isn't over yet!! Get back on defense!!"
Taoka was yelling anxiously from the sidelines.
Players can be confused, but coaches can't!
With 6 minutes left and a 10-point deficit, there's still a chance!
At this moment, Miyagi had already intercepted the ball and rushed towards the frontcourt.
Uozumi tail and ran back, with Miyagi in hot pursuit of Ikegami, trying to sabotage the counterattack.
Sendoh was the first to react, turning around to chase after Shirasawa.
"Get back on defense immediately!"
Fukuda and Kaede Rukawa also hurriedly ran back, but Kaede Rukawa was the one who felt most aggrieved.
The ball passed through three people, so why was I the one who got blocked in the end?
He drew an offensive foul on me during a crucial moment in the junior high finals, and then blocked my dunk attempt during a crucial moment in the high school finals.
What goes around comes around... but I can't be the only one caught in this cycle.
Sendoh's rapid defensive transition forced Shohoku into a positional game.
Hisashi Mitsui stood with his hands on his hips outside the three-point line on the left wing, completely becoming a spectator.
His relaxed demeanor made Taoka's heart pound.
Mitsui had been quiet for several minutes, which was in line with the plan, but Taoka felt that something was not right.
Even the Shohoku fans in the stands started grumbling.
"Is Mitsui really finished? He's been wandering around for ages."
"His stamina has always been like that, otherwise we would have won much earlier."
"Sigh... I don't want to say it, but if we lose in the end, Mitsui's performance will be the scapegoat."
We're all Shohoku fans, but not everyone likes all the players.
Besides, many people actually watch the game because of a particular star player, which is perfectly normal.
The Shohoku team doesn't have a particularly strong foundation, so it's normal for some dissenting voices to emerge among the fans.
In their own words, they were anxious and eager for the team to perform well immediately.
If Tetsuo Hotta had been there, there would probably have been a huge argument.
However, since he wasn't there, a voice directly retorted.
What nonsense are you spouting!
A girl's voice shrill with anger said, " Mitsui fought tooth and nail for Shohoku, what right do you have to tell him what to do?"
Seeing that it was just a young girl, the fans didn't bother to argue, chuckled, and turned back to watch the game.
After all, they all support Shohoku, and no one wants to actually start arguing.
But the girl's anger didn't subside; instead, she became even more agitated.
"Just wait and see! Mitsui isn't a pampered child; he'll definitely stand up and lead Shohoku to victory!"
As she shouted, she stepped onto a stool and held the piece of cardboard high above her head.
If Mitsui saw her, he would definitely recognize her... she's the fan he gave an umbrella to on the rainy day!
The photo on the cardboard was crumpled and couldn't be protected no matter what; it had been soaked through by the rain.
She had been too embarrassed to show it before, but she held the umbrella like a precious treasure.
But now, she didn't care anymore and simply held up the crumpled poster.
She suddenly understood what Mitsui had said... Hisashi Mitsui wasn't that delicate.
yes!
The Mitsui on the field, just like this poster, was never perfect.
But so what?
Mitsui has never admitted defeat!
A little rain and you're scared? No way!
They won't collapse just because others say a few words!
Whether he's perfect or not doesn't matter. Just remember, he's the Flame Man!
As long as he's still on the field, he'll never give up!
" Mitsui!!" the girl shouted at the top of her lungs, her eyes immediately welling up with tears.
At this critical juncture, she finally understood why she had been so staunchly supportive of Mitsui.
The scream drifted into the stadium; whether others heard it is uncertain, but Mitsui certainly did.
After all, it was a girl calling his name; it was hard not to notice.
Usually, this kind of commotion is directed at Shirasawa...
Mitsui glanced at the stands and immediately fixed his gaze on that conspicuous figure.
"It's her." He smiled slightly.
Then I glanced at the timer; it was exactly 15 minutes.
There are 5 minutes left in the game.
"Alright, as you wish."
Mitsui's eyes suddenly changed, completely different from his previous dejected look. He twisted his body and darted away from Fukuda!
Moichi Taoka had been watching from the sidelines, was stunned.
What's going on?!
That nagging feeling that something was off in his head finally surfaced.
Fukuda's defense against Mitsui is like Shirasawa's defense against off-road Koshino —it simply can't keep up.
Shirasawa had seen through Mitsui's plan long ago... This guy saved all his energy for the last five minutes!
Shirasawa weaved through the three defenders, and seized an opening to throw the ball out!
The basketball darted across the half-court like a cannonball, heading straight for the left baseline corner.
Mitsui arrives at the ball, bends his knees, jumps up, and shoots!
The movement was swift, clean, and impeccably beautiful.
As soon as the ball left his hand, Mitsui landed and turned to the stands, confidently holding up three fingers to the girl.
"I told you, Hisashi Mitsui isn't that delicate."
A three-pointer swished through the net!
The point difference is back to 13 points; Ryonan's efforts were all for nothing.
"How is that possible?!" Hikoichi Aida's eyes widened. "Wasn't Mitsui almost unable to walk just now?"
Moichi Taoka sighed heavily; now he understood everything.
He set up a whole scheme, but ended up falling into the trap himself.
"It's my fault for being so focused on the situation; I really thought Mitsui was finished..."
"This guy tricked me, huh?"
Hikoichi Aida suddenly realized, "Coach, you mean..."
Taoka nodded with a self-deprecating smile.
"That's right, Mitsui has been putting on an act the whole time, saving his strength for these last five minutes."
"Or perhaps they'll suddenly appear at the crucial moment... Mitsui, as expected of Mitsui."
Taoka spoke with a hint of regret in his voice, and even his eyes dimmed. Coach Taoka suddenly calmed down.
Although he couldn't say it out loud, he had already foreseen the outcome. Hisashi Mitsui's resurrection at this moment was simply the last straw that broke the camel's back.
He gave a self-deprecating smirk. He had prepared for this game for far too long, calculated too much, and even drawn a hexagonal chart of each Shohoku's technical characteristics. He knew exactly what each person was good at and how they usually played. He had also practiced repeatedly and developed several tactics specifically to deal with Shohoku.