“The game is 10 minutes long, first to 21 points wins. Three-pointers count as 2 points, inside the arc and free throws count as 1 point. It's change of possession. Understood?” The referee stood in the center circle, emphasizing the rules one last time in a deep voice.
Both teams responded in unison, their gazes already clashing with invisible sparks.
Following the coin toss, Gu Jin's team got possession first.
Gu Jin held the ball, and Maki Shinichi immediately focused on him.
He had expected A Mu to guard him, but could the other two handle it?
Gu Jin dribbled quickly, feigning a breakthrough, and Maki Shinichi dared not relax for a moment.
With a deft flick of Gu Jin's fingertips, the basketball arced low and flat, landing precisely in Uozumi Jun's hands, who had already established position under the basket.
Almost the instant he caught the ball, Uozumi felt Hasegawa's resistance from behind—the opponent clearly wanted to pressure him before he could get a firm footing.
But how could Ryonan's "Iron Tower" show weakness? He lowered his stance and exerted force, his broad back suddenly pushing backward, causing Hasegawa to stumble back half a step.
Just then, Gu Jin's voice came from the wing: “Uozumi, up!”
No further instructions were needed. Uozumi Jun's arms bulged with veins, his right hand, holding the ball, shot upwards, and he leaped like a spring onion sprouting from dry ground!
His height of over two meters became an absolute advantage at this moment. He slightly stretched his body in the air, his left hand naturally supporting the back of the ball, and the next second, with a resounding "Bang!", the basketball was slammed into the hoop!
Dunk successful!
The sidelines instantly erupted in gasps.
“So high! A power dunk right at the start!”
“Uozumi's strength is terrifying!”
1:0.
Uozumi landed steadily, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Gu Jin nodded at him, while Godai Tomokazu excitedly pumped his fist nearby.
Across from them, Maki Shinichi raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest appearing on his dark face;
Hasegawa rubbed his numb shoulder, his gaze towards Uozumi now more serious;
Only Kogure Kiminobu, pushing up his glasses, was about to step forward to participate in the inbound pass, when he saw Godai Tomokazu grinning at him—when Uozumi dunked, he barely felt any intention from Godai to move.
Kogure then realized: the person he was guarding was a Tsukubu player known for his three-pointers.
“It seems it won't be too easy from now on,” Kogure sighed lightly, silently adjusting his defensive stance.
The referee inbounded the ball to Maki Shinichi, and the game continued.
Gu Jin immediately stuck to him, his stance low, arms spread like iron gates, clinging to Maki Shinichi every step of the way.
This defensive posture carried an extremely strong sense of oppression, even Maki Shinichi couldn't help but be slightly stunned. The intensity of Gu Jin's defense could only be understood by experiencing it firsthand.
“Uozumi-senpai, Godai, just hold your positions,” Gu Jin's voice came through the contact, clearly reaching his teammates' ears, “Don't keep running after Hasegawa and Kogure, there's no need for that.”
Gu Jin's words meant he didn't take Hasegawa and Kogure seriously at all.
Kogure's three-point shot was steady, but too slow. With Godai's mobility, such a shooting speed would never be left open.
As for Hasegawa... his offensive threat was truly limited.
Kogure and Hasegawa's ears instantly turned red upon hearing this.
Gu Jin's meaning couldn't be clearer; he simply didn't think highly of them.
This was even more humiliating than losing the game!
Hasegawa clenched his fists, instinctively wanting to push forward, but was easily blocked outside the paint by Uozumi.
Maki Shinichi's gaze was serious; Gu Jin's defense was virtually impenetrable.
And Uozumi's position remained at the edge of the paint, both protecting the basket by blocking Hasegawa and subtly restricting his own breakthrough, leaving him in a dilemma.
Kogure wanted the ball, but Maki Shinichi had no intention of passing.
Kogure's positioning was too static, and his few runs were ineffective. A pass now would most likely be intercepted by Godai.
Kogure pushed up his glasses, his mouth twitching... were his own teammates looking down on him too?
Ultimately, Maki Shinichi attempted to break through, but two consecutive changes of direction were steadily defended by Gu Jin. Helpless, he glimpsed an open Hasegawa on the wing, and with a flick of his wrist, passed the ball over.
The moment Hasegawa received the ball, he almost instinctively wanted to turn and shoot—he wanted to prove himself! But just as he bent his knees and raised his arm, a dark figure suddenly cut in from diagonally behind!
It was Gu Jin!
As Hasegawa turned, Gu Jin's feet, as if spring-loaded, suddenly accelerated and lunged forward.
Hasegawa paused for a moment, and Gu Jin's fingertips precisely picked at the bottom of the basketball.
The ball came loose, and Gu Jin smoothly scooped it back into his arms, turning and dashing towards the three-point line.
“Get back on defense!” Maki Shinichi shouted, leading the chase.
Gu Jin rushed to the three-point line and stopped, his eyes sweeping towards the basket—Uozumi had already established position, with Hasegawa firmly blocked behind him;
Godai Tomokazu, meanwhile, stood with arms spread at a 45-degree angle on the right, completely drawing Kogure away.
“Uozumi!” Gu Jin raised his hand and passed the ball.
The basketball arced in a straight line, steadily landing in Uozumi's hands.
At this moment in the paint, only Kogure instinctively wanted to step forward to help defend, but Godai Tomokazu's fake move made him a half-step slow.
As Uozumi caught the ball, the corner of his eye caught Maki Shinichi rushing back. He remembered Gu Jin's words and, without hesitation, turned, his left shoulder gently bumping away Hasegawa who was trying to interfere. Then he jumped, raised his arm, and shot—the entire sequence was fluid, and the basketball grazed the backboard before falling into the hoop.
2:0!
“Good shot!” Godai Tomokazu roared, pumping his fist from the sidelines.
As Uozumi landed, Gu Jin happened to run beside him and whispered: “Uozumi-senpai, don't hesitate. As long as A Mu doesn't participate in the help defense, just attack them freely.”
Uozumi nodded heavily, a sharper glint in his eyes as he looked at Hasegawa.
Hasegawa stood rooted, his face alternating between green and pale—being targeted repeatedly, he had completely lost face.
Kogure walked over and patted his shoulder, a wry smile on his face: “Don't take it to heart...”
Hasegawa clenched his fists, knuckles white—being publicly disdained, easily stolen from, and watching the opponent score, these repeated "disregards" pricked at his heart like needles.
Kogure Kiminobu didn't feel much better.
At this moment, a thought simultaneously arose in both their minds: Gu Jin, speaking so bluntly, are you being polite?