Time out. The tactical boards on both sides were being slapped loudly.
The Kinzan Team's coach slammed the tactical board onto a chair, spittle splattering on it: "Ryonan's fast break relies on Gu Jin and Sendo!"
Miyazaki, you stick to Gu Jin like glue! Don't let him get up to speed easily!
Yamamoto, you block Sendo's driving lanes! If those two stop, half their fast break is useless!"
He pointed at Takahashi, "You stand firm under the basket and grab rebounds! Don't let them get any second-chance points!"
The players nodded with their heads down. Miyazaki Ken clenched his fists, his knuckles white—that block earlier was like a thorn in his heart, and he was determined to get his revenge.
On Ryonan's side, Taoka Moichi stood in front of the tactical board, circling the Jinshan Team's inside players with a red pen: "They're definitely going to defend against the fast break, so we'll do the opposite." He pointed at Sakuragi, "You're in, replacing Uekusa."
Uekusa paused, then nodded, patting Sakuragi's arm: "Good luck."
Sakuragi immediately puffed out his chest. Taoka continued: "Sakuragi, you have two tasks—grab rebounds, and also, guard their power forward closely! Don't let him easily enter the restricted area!" He then looked at Uozumi, "You hold Takahashi down under the basket for me, attract the defense. Sendo and Gu Jin, pay attention to passing the ball. We're going to play inside-out!"
"Understood!" Sakuragi shouted in response, his eyes as bright as light bulbs, "Mission accomplished, guaranteed! The genius is here, they're sure to lose!"
Taoka glared at him: "Less talk! Be smart out there!"
The timeout ended, and both teams' players returned to the court. When Sakuragi's striking red hair appeared in the Ryonan lineup, there was a stir in the stands.
"Isn't that the redhead? I heard he's a rookie."
The Jinshan Team players glanced at Sakuragi, a hint of disdain on their faces.
Miyazaki Ken even let out a cold laugh—what good could bringing in a greenhorn do?
The referee blew his whistle, and the game resumed.
The Jinshan Team inbounded the ball, but it was stolen by Gu Jin!
"Damn it!!!" Takahashi gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Get back on defense!" the Kinzan Commercial coach yelled from the sidelines.
Yamamoto Sho quickly locked onto Sendo, while Miyazaki Ken stuck to Gu Jin like a plaster.
Sendo tried to drive but was blocked by Yamamoto, forcing him to pass back to Uozumi.
Takahashi immediately moved up. Just as Uozumi was about to turn, he suddenly caught sight of Sakuragi, who had darted to the basket like lightning, and he quickly passed him the ball.
Everyone was stunned—including the Jinshan Team players.
They all thought Sakuragi would shoot directly, but the moment Sakuragi received the ball, he executed an incredible spin, evading Takahashi's help defense, and then passed the ball back to the trailing Gu Jin!
"Great pass!" Taoka shouted from the sidelines.
Gu Jin caught the ball and, without hesitation, jumped and shot. The basketball swished through the net.
23:14.
The Jinshan Team players were dumbfounded—this rookie actually passed?
It was the Jinshan Team's turn to offense. They wanted to play inside. Takahashi posted up under the basket, and just as he received the ball, he suddenly bumped into a "wall" from behind.
Sakuragi had somehow gotten behind him, arms spread wide like a large bird with open wings, completely blocking Takahashi's shooting lane.
"Get out of the way!" Takahashi roared, turning to try and push Sakuragi away, but Sakuragi was rooted to the spot, unmoving.
Takahashi grew desperate, forcing a jump shot. The moment the ball left his hand, Sakuragi leaped up and slammed it against the backboard!
"Wham!"
Another block! Even cleaner and more decisive than Gu Jin's earlier one!
Sakuragi landed, hands on his hips, and made a funny face at Takahashi: "Big dummy, your shooting is terrible!"
The entire venue fell silent for a moment, then erupted in even louder cheers.
"Oh my god! That block!"
"That number 10's reaction speed is insane!"
Takahashi's face turned a purplish red, and he nearly exploded on the spot. Gu Jin walked over and patted Sakuragi's shoulder, a rare smile gracing his lips: "Well done."
Sakuragi immediately became smug: "Of course! A genius's defense is unmatched!"
Taoka was rubbing his hands together happily on the sideline—this kid really has something!
Over the next few minutes, Sakuragi completely astonished everyone.
When the Jinshan Team missed a shot, he charged over like a cannonball, snatching the rebound right between Takahashi and Yamamoto Sho, then flicked it with one hand to Sendo;
Miyazaki Ken tried a fast break, but as soon as he crossed half-court, Sakuragi burst out from the side and stole the ball;
There was even one instance when he was clearly standing outside the three-point line, yet he seemed to anticipate it, suddenly rushing back to the basket and swatting away Takahashi's put-back attempt.
"This... this is that rookie?" The Jinshan coach clutched his forehead, looking disbelieving.
The score on the court was widening.
Although Sakuragi's shooting was still a bit raw, his drive and astonishing rebounding instinct completely disrupted the Jinshan Team's rhythm.
When Sakuragi grabbed another rebound and assisted Gu Jin for a fast-break score, the scoreboard read 29:16.
The Kinzan Commercial coach gritted his teeth and raised the timeout card again.
The last timeout of the first half was also used.
He looked at the bouncing redhead on the court and thought for the first time—Ryonan hadn't brought in a rookie this time; it was clearly a disruptive "monster."
Sakuragi rushed to the sidelines, proudly jutting out his chin at Taoka, who yelled back grumpily: "Don't get cocky! Keep defending!" But in his heart, he thought: This kid... he really is a diamond in the rough.
As soon as the Jinshan Team players rushed back to the bench, the coach's tactical board slammed onto the floor with a "bang," its plastic casing cracking.
"A bunch of good-for-nothings!" He pointed at the players' noses, his voice like thunder in the noisy stadium, "Where's the defense I set up? Miyazaki, where's the man you're supposed to be guarding? How many shots did Gu Jin make in your face? Yamamoto, you call that blocking a drive? Sendo shook you off with a simple pump fake!"
Takahashi hung his head, sweat dripping onto the floor. The coach's roar was like a whip lashing his back: "And you! Takahashi! Where's your dominance under the basket?"
"And Miyazaki Ken, you actually got blocked twice in a row by a redhead rookie? Doesn't your face hurt? What were you doing when he jumped? Sleepwalking?"
Miyazaki Ken clutched his towel, his knuckles twisting the fabric into wrinkles: "Coach, that kid..."
"Shut up!" The coach cut him off, his chest heaving, "Don't make excuses! Is he a genius? Is he a monster? You guys let him be! If you can't even defend a rookie, what's the point of playing basketball?"
He took a breath, bent down to pick up the tactical board, and drew several harsh lines on it with a red pen: "For the last few minutes, not only do you need to think about catching up, but you also need to save face! Miyazaki, you move up to the free-throw line, don't just stand under the basket—that redhead is crazy about rebounding, so you pull him out and block his path!"
He then pointed to Uesugi and Yamamoto: "You two switch defenses! Uesugi, go block Sendo. Yamamoto, guard Gu Jin! Don't let them run fast breaks anymore, force them to play half-court! As soon as the ball crosses half-court, stick to them! Use your bodies! Use your arms! Even if it's a foul, don't let them shoot comfortably!"
The players kept their heads down, no one daring to speak.
The coach stared in the direction of the Ryonan Team on the court, his eyes fierce as if he wanted to devour them: "For the last three minutes, I want to see your fighting spirit! If you don't even have that much backbone, then get off this court as soon as possible!"
He slammed the tactical board onto the table, his voice suddenly rising: "All of you remember this—losing is acceptable, but you can't be led around like dogs! Get out there!"
