"14:2, Ryonan's momentum is too fierce!" someone in the stands exclaimed in surprise, their eyes fixed on the red lightning on the court. "Hainan is actually being suppressed, this is a sight I've never seen before."
"Yeah, the King Hainan today looks like they've had their souls sucked out, they don't have any strength to fight back," the person next to them chimed in, their tone full of disbelief.
On the other side of the stands, several girls huddled together, their gazes uniformly falling on Sakuragi Hanamichi on the court.
"Haruko, look! Ryonan's number 10, that's my boyfriend Sakuragi Hanamichi!" Fujii Ran tugged on Akagi Haruko's arm, her face beaming with unconcealed pride, her voice several shades brighter than usual.
Akagi Haruko nodded, her eyes filled with genuine admiration: "Mm, he jumped so high just now, that dunk was spectacular."
"I heard Sakuragi say that he originally wanted to go to Shohoku," Fujii Ran paused, a hint of relief in her voice, "It was only after Ryonan's Coach Taoka personally recruited him that he came to Ryonan. Speaking of which, if it weren't for Coach Taoka, he might not have even touched a basketball yet."
Akagi Haruko gazed at the energetic figure on the court, her heart felt as if something had gently bumped it, suddenly skipping a beat.
Her mind suddenly flashed with images of her brother Akagi Takenori giving his all on the court, and of the Shohoku Team struggling time and again in difficult situations.
A thought popped into her head uncontrollably: it seemed as if something very important had been quietly taken away when she wasn't paying attention.
"If... if he had gone to Shohoku back then..." she murmured to herself, her voice as light as a sigh, "Perhaps my brother and his team really could have made it to the finals."
"Haruko, what's wrong?" Matsui, who was beside her, noticed her distraction and gently nudged her.
"Ah? Nothing." Akagi Haruko snapped back to reality and quickly shook her head, but that inexplicable sense of loss in her heart was like a pebble dropped into a lake, creating ripple after ripple.
The game on the court continued. The Hainan Team still hadn't called a timeout. Coach Takato sat on the bench, his face so calm that no emotion could be discerned.
Taoka Moichi stood in front of the Ryonan bench, raising his chin towards Takato across half-court, a hint of challenge in his voice: "Takato, it's already this late, and you can still keep your cool? If you don't make a change soon, you're really going to get crushed!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than another gasp erupted from the court.
Muto Tadashi of the Hainan Team attempted a layup with the ball, when Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly burst out from nowhere, like a wall that had suddenly risen, and fiercely swatted the ball away with a huge block!
"Bang!" The ball was swatted far away, landing perfectly in Gu Jin's hands.
The moment Gu Jin received the ball, he pushed off the ground and rushed towards the frontcourt like an arrow leaving a bow. Maki Shinichi, Takasago, and Kiyota Nobunaga quickly retreated to defend, forming a triangular block that almost completely sealed off all layup routes.
The spectators in the stands held their breath—there was no way he could get through!
But Gu Jin made an astonishing move in mid-air: he soared, contending with the three defenders, his body twisting slightly in the air. He held the ball in his right hand, evading Maki Shinichi's block, then suddenly flipped his wrist, switching the ball to his left hand, and, taking advantage of the gap, deftly scooped it towards the basket.
The basketball grazed the inside of the backboard and silently dropped into the net!
16:2!
The Ryonan bench completely erupted, and Taoka Moichi vigorously pumped his fist, unable to hide the smile on his face.
Meanwhile, the Hainan players stood rooted to the spot, showing expressions of disbelief for the first time—this Ryonan Team seemed far more powerful than they had imagined.
"Gu Jin! Gu Jin!!" Takato Riki stared intently at the terrifyingly calm figure on the court, squeezing out these two words through gritted teeth, then slammed his fist hard on the tactical board, finally signaling for a timeout to the referee.
The whistle blew, and the Hainan players retreated to the bench as if granted a reprieve, each face revealing unconcealed discomfiture.
Takato Riki slammed the tactical board onto the chair, his voice filled with suppressed fury: "Look at yourselves! You're being used as targets!"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and his fingers quickly traced lines on the tactical board: "A Mu, you go guard Sendo, don't let him easily organize fast breaks again.
Muto, you drop into the paint and help Takasago contend with Uozumi for rebounds."
As he spoke, he looked at Miyamasu Yoshinori nearby, his eyes sharpening: "Miyamasu, you're in. Replace Kiyota."
Kiyota Nobunaga suddenly looked up, his eyes full of unwillingness: "Coach! I can still play!"
"Your speed has been overwhelmed by Ryonan's fast breaks, and now we need Miyamasu's outside threat."
Takato Riki's tone was unquestionable, "Once you're in, guard Sakuragi. I can tell his driving and mid-range shooting are weak. You can completely contain him. Remember to stick close to him, don't be afraid of fouling!"
Miyamasu Yoshinori pushed up his glasses and nodded vigorously: "Yes, Coach!"
Takato Riki scanned the entire team one last time, his voice low but with an irresistible force: "Remember, we are Hainan! From now on, fight for every single point! Attack! Maximize our offensive intensity!"
The timeout whistle blew, Miyamasu Yoshinori replaced Kiyota Nobunaga, and the Hainan Team's formation had clearly been adjusted. Each player's eyes held a fierce determination, as if fighting with their backs against the wall.
"It's that short guy again?" Sakuragi Hanamichi scoffed, looking at Miyamasu Yoshinori who had just entered the game, "Hainan can't even defend us properly, and they're bringing in a bean sprout to make up the numbers?"
Gu Jin's gaze lingered on Miyamasu for a moment, then he spoke calmly: "If I'm not mistaken, he's here to guard you."
"Guard me?" Sakuragi instantly bristled, his red hair almost standing on end, "This bean sprout? He's clearly looking down on this genius!"
"Don't be careless." Gu Jin's tone deepened, "When he sticks to you later, don't think about driving, just use your body for a post-up. Before you ask for the ball, always establish position outside the three-second area."
Sakuragi scratched his head, looking indignant: "But he looks so frail, if I post up, isn't that bullying?"
Gu Jin's eyes sharpened, his tone carrying an unquestionable seriousness: "Sakuragi, remember, don't underestimate any opponent. If he dares to stand in front of you, use the rules of the restricted area to push him away. This isn't bullying, it's a game."
Sakuragi was stunned, looking at Gu Jin's serious expression, and suddenly clenched his fists: "Alright! This genius understands! I'll let him see what real power is!"
Taoka Moichi stood on the sidelines, watching Miyamasu Yoshinori indeed moving towards Sakuragi Hanamichi, and couldn't help but let out a low chuckle, a hint of mockery in his voice: "Miyamasu guarding Sakuragi? Takato, oh Takato, this move of yours truly... miscalculated."