At that moment, Takenori Akagi's eyes lit up. It was none other than Ryota Miyagi, the new captain of Shohoku. He was still the same as always, the most rational during the most intense moments, able to read the game thoroughly. After a few cuts, he crouched down and rushed out diagonally, making full use of his advantages at this time.
That's right, being short is the most effective weapon at this moment. Miyagi crouched down and charged, and the Chariot's defenders couldn't stop him at all. Just like their usual high-ball attacks, this move hit their weak spot.
Akagi understood perfectly and controlled the passing angle as much as possible, sending out an extremely low, bounce pass. At this height, Miyagi was unmatched. The red lightning bolt burst onto the field as he almost swooped down to catch the ball, then dashed straight into the attacking third like lightning. Everyone was on the same starting line, Chariot no one could catch up with Miyagi, especially since he had a running start. He crossed the center line in an instant, leaving some of the fans in the stands without even realizing it.
Hoffmann sprinted back with his long legs, but Miyagi wouldn't give him a chance. He could only watch helplessly as the small number 7 made an easy layup. Just as he ran back to half-court, the ball went in, widening the gap to 13 points. Miyagi shattered Chariot dream once again.
On the stands, Sota Miyagi smiled with satisfaction. He wasn't pleased with Miyagi's speed or technique, but rather with his ability to read the game and his composed playing style. For a defender, these are far more important than technique. Technique determines the floor, but these skills can infinitely raise the ceiling, and they are abilities that many people would rather die than acquire.
Shirasawa, Ryota Miyagi, and this Shohoku Basketball Team made Sota Miyagi's heart itch with excitement.
Moreover, this itchy sensation was something he had never experienced before in all these years.
After all, this was the most precious memory his brothers from Shohoku gave him after his brother went missing. Besides, Miyagi is still the captain now.
The score was close at 13 points when Miyagi's fast break put the team's Chariot to a halt.
The players felt all their energy drain away, panting heavily, with no sign of victory in sight.
Upon seeing this, the head coach of the Chariot quickly blew the whistle to call a timeout.
Actually, he didn't have any good ideas, but if he didn't call a timeout soon, the game might be over.
The players from both teams returned to the bench to rest, while the fans became the main focus of the game.
The cheers from the crowd never stopped, so they called out to the Chariot, trying to calm them down.
This is the thrill of playing at home; even the players on the Chariot felt a tightness in their chests.
The head coach was rambling on about tactics, and the guys were practically deafened, just hoping things wouldn't collapse.
The only effect of this timeout was probably to prevent the game from ending immediately.
The coach knows exactly what will happen when he goes on the field next.
Of course, he hoped for a miracle, hoped someone would step up, but would Shohoku give them that chance?
After the timeout, the players from both sides returned to the court, and the atmosphere was completely different.
Shohoku is like pushing open a brand new basketball door; just two more minutes and they'll be able to greet the new world as heroes.
"Defense!! Defense!!"
The fans throughout the stadium clenched their fists and shouted until their voices were hoarse; they hadn't stopped since the start of the game.
They had been waiting for this day: to win against a world power for the first time in an official competition—a moment that would be etched into the history of Chinese basketball.
As Shohoku fan, the feeling is completely different; it's worth it for a lifetime.
Basketball isn't just for players; ordinary people can also have their own basketball careers.
Some people go crazy when their team wins and cry when they lose. These people support basketball games and also support their own youth.
But as people get older and busier, their love for basketball fades. For an old fan like 253, seeing basketball will only elicit a smile before he turns to spend time with his children, and his basketball career comes to an end.
So now is their golden age, Shohoku is their team, the hope in everyone's heart.
Just then, Shirasawa suddenly sprang into action and snatched the ball directly from Wagner's hands!
They turned around and left everyone behind, instantly switching from defense to offense, and the roar from Shohoku stands soared to the heavens.
Shirasawa charged forward with the ball, Chariot teammates sprinted back to their own half.
Miyagi's shot just now was a sabotage plan; if this shot goes in, it will completely destroy them.
Wagner gritted his teeth, using every last bit of his strength, determined to catch up with Shirasawa and stop him.
Hoffmann and his group chased after Shirasawa relentlessly, fearing he might suddenly move too fast and get surrounded.
Passing the ball? Who cares about that now? Let's surround them first!
Shirasawa didn't slow down at all, and in the blink of an eye, he had broken through half-court, with nothing in front of him except the basketball hoop.
With his speed and explosiveness, he could definitely pull off a powerful dunk that would be incredibly entertaining.
But just then, Shirasawa, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped!
He pulled up and spun between his legs at the top of the arc, the movement was so smooth, his body control was perfect.
But this choice seems too risky!
They could have just rushed in and scored two points. Once they made it, the point difference would have been 15, and with two minutes left in the game, the lead was very secure.
This sudden break and subsequent attack could have been the highlight of his career, so why did he stop?
Shirasawa's next move made everyone's hearts leap into their throats.
He not only stopped, he jumped up!
He actually managed to pull up for a three-pointer against a perfectly smooth fast break!
This is a skill even top shooters wouldn't dare to attempt casually, let alone three-pointers, which aren't Shirasawa's regular weapon.
Playing this move at this point, isn't it reckless?
Someone in the stands shouted, " Shirasawa is crazy! He's betting his entire career!!"
Uozumi jumped up from the stands. Although he couldn't say he particularly liked Shirasawa, he was genuinely impressed by Bai Ze's skills and was practically defeated by him.
While it's no exaggeration to say he gambled his entire career on this, choosing such a risky move instead of a sure-win situation could lead to irreparable regret if he makes a mistake.
If this shot hadn't gone through, and the Chariot had launched a counter-attack to complete a major comeback, Shirasawa's choice this time would have been met with a barrage of criticism. All the reputation and achievements he had built up would have been wiped out by this one mistake, and the condemnation would have followed him throughout his entire career.
However, on the other hand, high risk comes with high reward. If this unconventional choice succeeds, his status in the basketball world could rise to another level. It all depends on the outcome of this shot.
Of course, Shirasawa had a backup plan. Hanamichi Sakuragi, who had desperately chased after them, Sakuragi grab the rebound even if he missed the three-pointer, and that would be the end of it.
The simple-minded Sakuragi didn't think that far ahead; he had no time to ponder anything else, only one thought in his mind: what if Shirasawa didn't make the shot?
He had to get the rebound and then pass the ball back to Shirasawa; that was his simple and pure basketball logic.
Shirasawa's sudden stop startled Wagner, but he had no time to think about anything else. He only had one thought in his mind: This Number 9 in front of him is too strange. He must not let him make a move smoothly!
Despite the risk of a potential ankle injury, Wagner abruptly turned around, heard a soft click on his ankle, gritted his teeth, and lunged to block Shirasawa's shot!
ah!!
Wagner stretched his arm out straight, trying his best to block Shirasawa's shot, but he was still half a beat too slow. It was that crucial half beat; the basketball grazed his fingertips, and then, his big hand slapped Shirasawa's arm!
Instantly, Wagner froze, as if struck by lightning!
Snap! Beep!!
Wagner's slap and the referee's whistle blew almost simultaneously.
As a referee, you have to anticipate the situation and not be distracted by the attention of the entire arena. While everyone was focused on Shirasawa's three-pointer, he kept his eyes glued to Wagner, who was closest to him.
The result was the same. From the moment Wagner did the hard turn, the referee had the whistle in his mouth. In that situation, 99% of the time, the player couldn't control his body, and a foul was inevitable.
The referee was also a little moved. That was too much. The force of that hard turn was like a desperate attempt to save the ball. He only had the basketball on his mind and was willing to risk his life to stop it.
Although Wagner's move wasn't as eye-catching as a diving save and didn't attract the attention of the entire stadium, the referee still had to blow the whistle before he could give him a thumbs up.
When the whistle blew, most people breathed a sigh of relief. It was a foul on Shirasawa's shot. Even if he missed the three-pointer, he would still get three free throws!
Shirasawa's seemingly obsessive choice now appears to be an extreme maneuver, turning 2 points into 3 points. He wasn't going for a sure win; he was going for a decisive blow!
Before the fans could even react, the basketball hit the backboard, bounced off, and slammed straight into the basket!
Three points! And a free throw!!
"It's in!! It's in!!"
"Four points!! This is a four-point score, holy crap!! Shirasawa has gone mad!!"
"That's absolutely a historic goal! Nobody could have done that!!"
"The point difference went from thirteen to seventeen? Shirasawa! Kill the game! Kill the Chariot! Awesome!!"
" Shirasawa! He's gone berserk! We won!!"
In an instant, the entire venue erupted, and thunderous shouts drowned out all other noises.
Just as the fans said, Shirasawa widened the gap from thirteen to seventeen. Instead of securing two points that were already in the bag, he chose the highest single-round score, and it worked! He used this shot to directly kill the game and extinguish the last hope of the Chariot!
Some say it's gambling, and shooting a three-pointer straight down the backboard is indeed gambling, but everyone is focused on the outcome. Now who still calls it gambling? Others might call it a desperate gamble, but that's Shirasawa! Does he need to gamble? He can play however he wants!
After the fans finished chanting, they chanted "MVP" in unison. In such a big event, the highest honor was given to Shirasawa. At this moment, he is a god in everyone's hearts!
On the court, teammates rushed forward, eager to beat Shirasawa to a pulp to express their excitement. The Shohoku substitutes on the sidelines did the same, and even the composed Kogure couldn't help but pound the bench to vent his frustration.
Coach Anzai clenched his chubby hands and waved them wildly in front of his chest. Although Shirasawa had performed many miracles before, who wouldn't get goosebumps watching this play?
On the other side, Wagner had already lost his balance before the foul, landing flat on his face. More painful than the thud in his buttocks was the sharp pain in his ankle. In that moment of defense, he couldn't think of anything else but blocking the ball. Although he felt something was wrong with his ankle before jumping, he didn't hesitate for a second.
Regardless of the outcome, at least he didn't let himself or the team down. Wagner didn't put up any impressive stats throughout the match, but this one goal is enough to earn him the respect of the entire stadium.
Wagner's teammates rushed over to see what had happened, but Wagner injury temporarily suppressed their excitement. Now, losing the game seemed inevitable; they just hoped Wagner wouldn't get hurt!
"I'm sorry everyone, I'm afraid I won't be able to fight alongside you to the very end."
Wagner forced a smile; although he was the shortest in the team, he was also the toughest in terms of both physique and temperament. He was in so much pain he couldn't stand up, but his stubbornness was as unyielding as a rock.
There was a hint of sadness in his words; he had already decided the outcome of the game. With just over a minute left, it was just a formality, and the loss was inevitable. It was just a pity that he couldn't stay with everyone until the very end.
Finally, the medical staff carried Wagner off the field on a stretcher. He had been entangled by Shirasawa the entire time, but he didn't give up and fought until his last ounce of strength. Although his exit was a bit tragic, no one would say a single bad word about him.
Firstly, he gave it his all for the team, even risking his own health; secondly, he was matched up against Shirasawa, who was incredibly strong! It wasn't that Wagner played poorly; they were simply not in the same league. Not everything you do your best will yield good results, and that's just how Wagner is; there's nothing he can do about it.
Shirasawa stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank the shot, completing a four-point play! The gap between the two sides immediately widened to seventeen points! With just over a minute left, a seventeen-point difference meant the game was essentially over. If there was any possibility left, it was only a theoretical sliver of hope...
In the next two or three rounds, Shohoku didn't let up at all, and with the cheers of the fans in the arena, they kept putting pressure on the Chariot. The point difference widened from nineteen points to twenty-one points, and the gap widened further and further.
Ever since Shirasawa scored that four-pointer, the Chariot Team has completely lost their momentum. Now they're just waiting for the final whistle to end this unexpected defeat.