Recaps

Slam Dunk promoted Kaede Rukawa to five-star status and ranked Shirasawa ahead of Eiji Sawakita for national MVP as Shohoku prepared to face Meihou Industrial. Before the semifinal tipped off, Hanamichi Sakuragi’s collision with Hiroshi Morishige revealed the center’s immense strength, and Coach Anzai assigned Shohoku to attack from the perimeter while Akagi and Sakuragi guarded the paint.

• Slam Dunk removed Tsuyoshi Minami from its five-star list, promoted Kaede Rukawa, and ranked Shirasawa first in its national MVP rankings, ahead of Eiji Sawakita and Hiroshi Morishige.
• Yusuke Oda told Hiroshi Morishige that some people still underestimated him, and Morishige said he did not care about the rankings before learning he would face Takenori Akagi.
• Fans packed the main gymnasium for the semifinals, where Shohoku and Meihou Industrial played first, followed by Sannoh Industrial High School and Ryonan.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi secretly rammed into Morishige during warmups, but Morishige barely moved; Kogure pulled Sakuragi away as Miyagi and Mitsui scolded him.
• Uozumi and Hikoichi Aida discussed the pressure Morishige would put on Akagi, while Moichi Taoka brought Ryonan to watch Shohoku’s game to ease their nerves before facing Sannoh.
• Coach Anzai told Shohoku to focus on outside shots against Meihou Industrial’s strong interior defense, assigning Akagi and Sakuragi to protect the paint.

Shohoku opened its game against Meihou Industrial with a dominant start as Shirasawa dunked over Morishige and helped build a 7–0 lead. Morishige continued battling Akagi in the paint as Meihou struggled to get him the ball.

• Akagi won the opening jump ball against Morishige, and Shirasawa followed by dunking over Morishige for Shohoku’s first basket.
• Shirasawa drew defenders and passed to Mitsui, who made a three-pointer to put Shohoku ahead 5–0.
• Shirasawa intercepted Nakashima’s lob intended for Morishige and sent the ball ahead for Miyagi to score a layup, extending Shohoku’s lead to 7–0.
• Akagi and Morishige kept wrestling for position in the paint while Meihou tried to work the ball inside to Morishige.

Shohoku dominated Meihou Industrial as Shirasawa powered the team’s offense and Akagi battled Morishige inside. The chapter ended after Morishige accidentally struck Akagi’s nose, Sakuragi confronted him, and Coach Anzai called a timeout to check Akagi’s injury.

• Morishige muscled past Akagi for a dunk, but Shirasawa answered with a pass that let Akagi dunk in return.
• Miyagi intercepted Meihou’s pass and assisted Sakuragi on a fast-break dunk, putting Shohoku ahead 11-2.
• After the timeout, Morishige repeatedly scored over Akagi, while Shohoku’s team offense stretched the lead to 43-25.
• Morishige’s elbow struck Akagi’s nose and drew blood, prompting Sakuragi to confront him.
• Akagi told Sakuragi to back away and said the contact was normal, while Coach Anzai called a timeout to examine him.

Shohoku's teamwork helped Akagi and Sakuragi contain Morishige, and they built a 28-point halftime lead over Meihou. After the teams regrouped and Ryonan crossed paths with Sannoh, the second half began with Morishige winning the tip against Akagi.

• Akagi returned to the court and teamed up with Sakuragi to block Morishige and force a jump ball.
• Sakuragi won the jump ball but committed a violation, then intercepted Meihou's pass to Morishige and helped start a Shohoku fast break.
• Mitsui scored a three-pointer as Shohoku kept Morishige under pressure, and the first half ended with Shohoku leading 66-38.
• Akagi told Uozumi he would be waiting for him, while Sendoh and Sawakita exchanged smiles and Hikoichi corrected Sendoh about Sawakita's name.
• Morishige beat Akagi at the opening tip of the second half and gave Meihou possession.

Shohoku overwhelmed Meihou Industrial in the national semifinal, with Takenori Akagi shutting down Meihou’s support plays and Shohoku advancing to the national championship final. The chapter left the final matchup undecided as Shinichi Maki said only a game between Shohoku and Sannoh Industrial High School could settle which team was stronger.

• Meihou Industrial used Maeda Ryuu to draw Hanamichi Sakuragi away from Hiroshi Morishige, but Sakuragi fouled Maeda and Morishige scored against Takenori Akagi.
• Akagi and Sakuragi switched assignments, and Akagi stripped the ball from Maeda Ryuu while Masashi Kawata and Masahiro Nobe discussed Sakuragi’s rebounding and weaknesses.
• Shohoku’s defense neutralized Meihou Industrial’s offense, and Shirasawa forced a basket and foul as Shohoku built a lead of more than forty points.
• Coach Yusuke Oda substituted Hiroshi Morishige, who finished with 34 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks, and Coach Anzai then pulled Shohoku’s starters as the team reached the national championship final.
• Shinichi Maki and Nobunaga Kiyota discussed Shohoku’s prospects against Sannoh Industrial High School, while Maki predicted Ryonan would lose to Sannoh.

Shohoku defeated Meihou Industrial to reach the national final, and the team watched as Ryonan prepared to face Sannoh for the other spot. Sawakita and Sendoh renewed their rivalry before the game, while Sawakita took notice of Ryonan’s number eleven.

• Shohoku celebrated its semifinal victory, with Shirasawa scoring 47 points and recording 23 assists, eight steals, five rebounds, and five blocks.
• Uozumi rallied Ryonan in the locker room, urging his teammates to give everything against Sannoh and help him finish his high school career on a high note.
• Akagi and Kogure joined Shohoku in the stands to watch Ryonan face Sannoh, with Akagi urging the team to study both opponents carefully.
• Sannoh’s players performed a synchronized warm-up before Sawakita finished with a windmill dunk, drawing cheers from the crowd and Sakuragi’s criticism.
• Sawakita and Sendoh greeted each other at center court and renewed their old rivalry; Sendoh warned that another Ryonan player stood in Sawakita’s way, and Sawakita identified number eleven as one of Ryonan’s Twin Stars.

Ryonan faced Sannoh Industrial High School, whose elite defense and precise anticipation shut down Ryonan’s opening attacks. Sannoh took a 5-0 lead as Eiji Sawakita scored and Minoru Matsumoto hit a three-pointer, leaving Ryonan struggling to find an answer.

• Jun Uozumi won the opening tip for Ryonan, and Akira Sendoh brought the ball across half court against Kazunari Fukatsu’s defense.
• Eiji Sawakita stole the ball from Kaede Rukawa, outran Ryonan’s defenders, and scored Sannoh’s first points with a midair-adjusted layup.
• Sendoh warned Rukawa about Sawakita, while Hanamichi Sakuragi mocked Rukawa from the stands and Shirasawa reassured Shohoku’s teammates.
• Rukawa cut to the basket on Ryonan’s next attack, but Masashi Kawata blocked his reverse layup with precise timing.
• Kazunari Fukatsu drove into Ryonan’s defense, passed to Minoru Matsumoto, and Matsumoto’s corner three extended Sannoh’s lead to 5-0.

Sannoh overwhelmed Ryonan early with its star players, but Taoka’s timeout steadied the team and Rukawa answered Sawakita’s repeated scoring with a basket of his own. The chapter left Ryonan back in the game and Sawakita eager to test Ryonan’s twin stars.

• Maki explained that Matsumoto could star on most teams, while Kiyota worried that Sannoh’s talent made Shohoku and Ryonan helpless; Maki argued Shohoku could still compete.
• Kawata stole the ball from Uozumi and led a fast break that ended with Sawakita scoring over Rukawa, giving Sannoh a 7-0 lead.
• Taoka called a timeout, encouraged Ryonan to fight back, and Sendoh scored the team’s first points with a mid-range jumper.
• Fukatsu’s pass set up Sawakita for another hanging finish over Rukawa, prompting Rukawa to demand the ball and challenge him one-on-one.
• Rukawa drove against Sawakita, used a hanging one-legged jumper to score, and caught Sawakita’s interest in Ryonan’s twin stars.

Ryonan struggled to keep pace with Sannoh, whose disciplined offense had built a ten-point lead while Masashi Kawata remained largely quiet. Goro Domoto sent Masashi’s enormous younger brother Mikio onto the court to test him against Uozumi, leaving Ryonan facing a new threat as the first half neared its end.

• Sannoh led Ryonan 51-41 fifteen minutes into the first half, while Shinichi Maki, Takenori Akagi, and Kiminobu Kogure warned that Masashi Kawata had yet to show his full strength.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi dismissed Masashi Kawata’s threat, and Takenori Akagi warned him not to underestimate the Sannoh center.
• Goro Domoto ordered Mikio Kawata to warm up and prepare to guard Uozumi, intending to develop him as Masashi’s eventual replacement.
• After Eiji Sawakita scored through Ryoji Ikegami and made his free throw, Mikio entered the game and Masashi struck him for timidly apologizing.
• Mikio took position beside Uozumi and overpowered him physically, while Moichi Taoka worried that Ryonan had to attack before the first half ended.

Sannoh led Ryonan 65-52 at halftime, with the Kawata brothers shutting down Uozumi and Sannoh preparing to intensify its defense. The second half opened with Satoshi Ichinokura stealing a pass to Rukawa and Eiji Sawakita finishing the fast break with a dunk.

• Sendoh scored over Fukatsu, but Mikio Kawata then bullied Uozumi under the basket and scored easily.
• Sannoh's defense kept Ryonan from building momentum, and the first half ended with Sannoh ahead 65-52 as Uozumi had only two points and two rebounds.
• Taoka encouraged the dejected Uozumi at halftime, while Domoto criticized Sannoh's first-half defense and offense.
• Uozumi won the second-half jump ball, and Domoto substituted Satoshi Ichinokura for Minoru Matsumoto to guard Rukawa.
• Ichinokura intercepted Sendoh's pass to Rukawa, and Sawakita raced ahead to score with a one-handed dunk.

Ryonan’s offense briefly revived when Rukawa began creating plays for his teammates, but Eiji Sawakita and Sannoh kept control of the game. Ryonan’s national tournament run ended in a heavy defeat, leaving the team to look ahead to next season.

• Sawakita outplayed Sendoh during a scoring run, while Ichinokura shut down Rukawa and Ryonan fell further behind.
• Rukawa began passing deliberately and assisted Uozumi on a powerful dunk, sparking Ryonan’s offense and cutting the deficit to thirteen.
• Sawakita turned a blocked fast break into a backboard pass for Nobe, restoring Sannoh’s control and extinguishing Ryonan’s comeback hopes.
• Taoka accepted that Ryonan had reached its limit and looked ahead to the team’s future with Sendoh and Rukawa.
• Ryonan continued competing as the deficit grew beyond thirty points; Rukawa recorded his first ten-assist game and Uozumi reached double-digit scoring.
• In the closing seconds, Sawakita tipped Sendoh’s shot and Nobe recovered the ball as Ryonan’s tournament run came to an end.

Ryonan lost to Sannoh Industrial High School, ending Uozumi and Ikegami’s high school careers while Sendoh and Rukawa prepared to carry the team forward. Sannoh advanced to its fourth consecutive national final, where Sawakita was set to face Shirasawa.

• Fukatsu let the clock run out as Sannoh secured its place in the national final, and Shohoku’s players anticipated facing them.
• Sendoh passed the final possession to Uozumi, who roared farewell to Ryonan and ended his playing career.
• Taoka reflected on Uozumi’s decision to leave basketball, and Ryonan’s players shouted together to honor their departing seniors.
• Sannoh advanced behind Sawakita’s 55-point performance, while Sendoh scored 39 points and Rukawa added 33 points and 10 assists for Ryonan.
• Domoto considered Mikio Kawata Sannoh’s successor in the paint, though several of the team’s veteran starters were set to graduate.

After Ryonan lost to Sannoh, Uozumi and Taoka gave their team a chance to stay and watch Shohoku’s national final against Sannoh. As the final approached, Coach Anzai worried that Shohoku’s mentality and slow starts could decide the championship.

• Masashi Kawata praised Mikio Kawata after his strong game against Uozumi, then promised to take him out for a meal.
• Uozumi led Ryonan through the postgame lineup and handshake with Sannoh, while Sendoh and Rukawa traded taunts with Eiji Sawakita about the coming final.
• Shohoku and Sannoh emerged as the last two teams in the tournament, with the national championship and the title of top high school player at stake.
• Uozumi offered to pay for Ryonan to stay and watch the final, but Taoka secured the lodging and meal expenses from the school instead.
• Ryonan joined Shohoku for a party, while Coach Anzai and Taoka went out for drinks; Anzai considered how to relax Shohoku and prepare the team for Sannoh.

Coach Anzai and Moichi Taoka discussed Shohoku’s need to start strongly against Sannoh, while Shohoku and Ryonan shared a feast. Uozumi announced that he would leave Ryonan and give up basketball to take over his family’s business, leaving both teams stunned.

• Moichi Taoka told Coach Anzai that Sannoh was stronger overall but that Shohoku’s potential and opening performance could decide the game.
• Coach Anzai and Moichi Taoka discussed how Miyagi and Minoru Matsumoto’s matchup could affect Shohoku’s start.
• Uozumi paid for a feast shared by Shohoku and Ryonan, intending to make the gathering a happy farewell.
• Shirasawa told Sendoh he was confident he could beat Sawakita, and Sendoh wished him success in becoming the country’s top high school player.
• Uozumi announced that he would skip the winter selection tournament and had played his last game for Ryonan.
• Uozumi told everyone he was leaving Ryonan and giving up basketball to return home and take over the family business.

Uozumi’s retirement hardened Shohoku’s resolve to win its final game, while Sannoh prepared an intensive plan to contain Shohoku and Shirasawa. The next morning, Sanae arrived at Shohoku’s guesthouse with major news and met Shirasawa on the court.

• Uozumi told Ryonan to keep pursuing his dream, and Ryoji Ikegami vowed to carry the team through the winter tournament.
• Shohoku’s players drew strength from Uozumi’s farewell and resolved to win for Akagi, Kogure, Mitsui, and Uozumi.
• Sannoh’s players analyzed Shohoku’s strengths and weaknesses, then planned to have Eiji Sawakita take over Shirasawa if Kazunari Fukatsu could not contain him.
• Goro Domoto joined Sannoh’s strategy meeting and agreed that Shohoku was a formidable opponent.
• Sanae Nakagawa arrived at Shohoku’s guesthouse with major news and played one-on-one with Shirasawa, who overwhelmed her with his scoring.

Sanae told Shohoku that winning the national final against Sannoh would earn them a place in the Four Nations High School Invitational Tournament, giving the team a new reason to fight. As Shohoku and Sannoh prepared for the final, Slam Dunk published a national top-twenty player ranking that added individual stakes to the showdown.

• After their game, Sanae and Shirasawa returned to the guesthouse, where Coach Anzai gathered the team in the lobby.
• Sanae explained that four countries would hold a high school invitational and that the national tournament champion would represent their country.
• Akagi, Mitsui, Miyagi, and the rest of Shohoku vowed to beat Sannoh, while Shirasawa urged them to fight.
• Goro Domoto learned about the invitational but assumed Sannoh would claim the place, then gave his team the day off before the final.
• Slam Dunk released its national top-twenty high school player rankings, making the final a contest for both the championship and individual positions.

Shohoku's Shirasawa ranked second in the national high school player rankings ahead of the final against Sannoh Industrial High School, with Eiji Sawakita in first. As the players prepared for the championship, Shirasawa spent the evening with Sanae and later encountered Haruko, while Sakuragi tried to steady himself for the game.

• Slam Dunk ranked Shirasawa second, Sawakita first, and Sakuragi nineteenth, while Shohoku placed four players in the top twenty and Sannoh placed five.
• Miyagi accepted being left off the list and resolved to prove himself in the final.
• Shirasawa escorted Sanae to her hotel, played basketball with her, and left after she fell asleep.
• Shirasawa ran into Haruko and Yoko after showering, and Haruko hugged him before he returned to the guesthouse.
• The Shohoku players struggled to sleep before their first national final, while Sakuragi went for a run and then called Yoko.

On the eve of the national final, Sakuragi found Coach Anzai asleep beside a Sannoh recording and promised they would win. Shohoku and Sannoh entered a packed arena, and the chapter ended with Sakuragi charging into Sannoh’s warm-up and soaring toward the basket after stealing the ball.

• Sakuragi found Coach Anzai asleep on the sofa, covered him with a blanket, and quietly promised Shohoku would win.
• Maki bought final tickets for himself, Kiyota, and Moroboshi, while Hikoichi queued overnight to secure tickets for Ryonan.
• Sanae and Yayoi Aida met in the stands and talked about celebrating with the national champions.
• Akagi led Shohoku onto the court, and Coach Anzai and Domoto greeted each other before both teams warmed up.
• Sannoh performed its coordinated dunk routine, and Sakuragi sprinted into its half, stole a pass, and leaped toward the basket.

Hanamichi Sakuragi and Eiji Sawakita traded spectacular free-throw-line dunks before Shirasawa surpassed them both with a textbook dunk from the line. Shirasawa’s feat stunned Sannoh, and the referee called both teams back to their benches before Sawakita could respond.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi answered Sannoh’s show of strength with a one-handed gliding dunk from just inside the free-throw line.
• Eiji Sawakita matched Sakuragi’s challenge and dunked from farther out, restoring Sannoh’s momentum.
• Haruko rallied Shohoku behind Shirasawa, and Sawakita passed him the ball to attempt the same challenge.
• Shirasawa precisely planted his foot at the free-throw line and completed a dunk that left the arena stunned.
• Shirasawa celebrated with Sakuragi as Shohoku erupted, while Eiji Sawakita eagerly prepared to respond.
• Goro Domoto considered stopping the escalating display, but the referee blew the whistle and sent both teams to their benches.

Shohoku and Sannoh prepared for the national championship final, with Sannoh assigning Satoshi Ichinokura to guard Hisashi Mitsui and Shohoku planning to attack that matchup. Shohoku took the opening tip, and Mitsui scored the first points with a three-pointer as Sannoh began its first possession.

• Goro Domoto put Satoshi Ichinokura in the starting lineup to guard Hisashi Mitsui, while Coach Anzai told Mitsui to attack him.
• Takenori Akagi rallied Shohoku, and the starters took the court as the national championship final began.
• Akagi beat Masashi Kawata on the opening tip, and Shirasawa collected the ball for Shohoku.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi slipped past Masahiro Nobe and screened Ichinokura, helping Hisashi Mitsui get open for a pass from Shirasawa.
• Mitsui made a three-pointer to put Shohoku on the board first, and Sannoh inbounded to begin its first attack.

Ryota Miyagi stole the ball from Kazunari Fukatsu and scored against Eiji Sawakita, giving Shohoku an early highlight in the national championship final. Sannoh answered by exploiting Masashi Kawata’s skill at the high post, where he beat Takenori Akagi and rose to shoot as Akagi called for help.

• Ryota Miyagi intercepted Kazunari Fukatsu’s pass, outran Eiji Sawakita, and scored a layup despite Sawakita nearly blocking it.
• Hikoichi Aida praised Miyagi as a role model for short players, while Moichi Taoka warned that Miyagi’s exceptional speed could not be easily copied.
• Miyagi traded barbed remarks with Sawakita after the score, and Sawakita welcomed the challenge as possession returned to Sannoh.
• Shohoku used Shirasawa to pressure Fukatsu and assigned Hisashi Mitsui to defend Sawakita as Sannoh brought the ball upcourt.
• Masashi Kawata caught the ball at the high post, drew Takenori Akagi away from the basket, and spun past him to rise for a shot as Akagi shouted for help.

Shohoku stopped Sannoh’s opening attack and Ryota Miyagi scored a spectacular Jelly Layup against Satoshi Ichinokura. The chapter left Shohoku leading Sannoh 7–0 after a stunning start.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi blocked Masashi Kawata’s path to the hoop, and Shirasawa swatted Masahiro Nobe’s rebound attempt against the backboard before Takenori Akagi secured the ball.
• Akagi launched a long pass to Ryota Miyagi, who sprinted downcourt with Satoshi Ichinokura guarding him tightly.
• Miyagi beat Ichinokura’s defense with a Jelly Layup that spun off the backboard and into the hoop.
• Coach Anzai and the others explained Miyagi’s wrist-powered technique as the arena erupted and Hikoichi Aida declared Miyagi his master.
• Shohoku extended its lead to 7–0 while Sannoh remained scoreless.

Shohoku’s early lead was challenged when Masashi Kawata scored an and-one over Takenori Akagi and Hanamichi Sakuragi. Shirasawa answered with a dunk over Masahiro Nobe, leaving Shohoku celebrating as Nobe sat on the floor.

• Masashi Kawata dribbled past Takenori Akagi, overpowered Hanamichi Sakuragi’s block attempt, and scored an and-one to cut Sannoh’s deficit to 7-3.
• Takenori Akagi reassured Hanamichi Sakuragi after the foul, and Sakuragi promised to be more careful.
• Shirasawa drove past Kazunari Fukatsu and attacked the basket as Akagi held Masashi Kawata away.
• Masahiro Nobe challenged Shirasawa in midair but fouled him as Shirasawa powered through and dunked over him.
• Shirasawa landed in front of Masahiro Nobe as Shohoku’s fans roared over the dunk.

Shirasawa and Eiji Sawakita led a high-scoring duel as Shohoku traded baskets with Sannoh while protecting its early lead. Ten minutes into the first half, Shohoku remained ahead 28-21, and Coach Anzai’s plan depended on Shirasawa and his teammates holding the advantage.

• Shirasawa dunked through Masahiro Nobe, drew a foul, and sank the free throw to put Shohoku ahead 10-3.
• Eiji Sawakita beat Hisashi Mitsui off the dribble and dunked, then scored 13 straight points while Mitsui struggled to stop him.
• Shirasawa repeatedly broke through Kazunari Fukatsu’s defense as Takenori Akagi battled Masashi Kawata to create room for Shohoku’s offense.
• Shirasawa scored another chopping dunk, and Shohoku held a 28-21 lead ten minutes into the first half.
• Hikoichi Aida said Shohoku could win if it maintained its lead, and Moichi Taoka agreed with Coach Anzai’s strategy of giving Shirasawa an early advantage.

Sannoh sent Mikio Kawata in to exploit his size against Hanamichi Sakuragi, while Shirasawa’s defense left Kazunari Fukatsu unable to organize the offense. Shohoku’s players struggled against the matchup, and the chapter ended with Hisashi Mitsui still unable to contribute as Satoshi Ichinokura and Eiji Sawakita shut him down.

• Goro Domoto substituted Mikio Kawata for Masahiro Nobe instead of sending in Minoru Matsumoto, and Masashi Kawata urged his younger brother to focus.
• Shirasawa pressured Kazunari Fukatsu so thoroughly that Fukatsu could only bring the ball across half court and pass it away.
• Mikio used his size to back down Hanamichi Sakuragi and score a short hook shot, then occupied the paint on defense with his massive frame.
• Sakuragi tried to provoke Mikio, but Masashi Kawata interrupted him and sent Mikio back to defending.
• Shirasawa drove into the paint again while Satoshi Ichinokura denied Hisashi Mitsui the ball and Eiji Sawakita continued to challenge him on defense.