Maki Shinichi slowly dribbled the ball forward, his eyes sweeping over Gu Jin's tightened defensive stance, then suddenly accelerated and broke through to the left.
Gu Jin's slide step was as fast as lightning, almost moving in sync with him.
Maki Shinichi used the momentum to whip the ball to the right, and the moment Hasegawa caught the ball, he was about to jump—the humiliation of being blocked by Godai was still burning his nerves.
But Uozumi's long arm had already covered him like a dark cloud, and that sure-shot layup was firmly pressed against the backboard.
Gu Jin snatched the rebounding basketball like a leopard, turned, and made a long pass.
Godai Tomokazu had already shot out like an arrow from a bow, and when he received the ball outside the three-point line, Kogure's defensive assist was only half a step late.
He didn't hesitate at all; as he jumped, his body leaned back slightly, and the basketball grazed Kogure's fingertips, swishing through the net!
6:2! The first wave of cheers, like a tide, erupted from the stands, and some people had already started shouting Godai's name.
Hasegawa picked up the ball, grinding his fingertips hard on its surface.
Hasegawa inbounded the ball to Maki Shinichi.
The next second, he suddenly accelerated and broke through, and the moment he encountered Gu Jin and Godai's double-team near the free-throw line, he flicked his wrist in the opposite direction, and the basketball passed under Godai's armpit, landing precisely in Kogure's hands outside the three-point line.
This time, Kogure didn't hesitate.
He remembered that clean three-pointer just now, and the gaze from the stands that might not have existed, then bent his knees, raised his arm, and flicked his wrist, his movements flowing smoothly.
The arc of the basketball was more determined than the last time, and when the swish sound rang out, he even dared to lift his chin, meeting Godai's gaze.
6:4.
"Good shot!" Hasegawa's roar carried a sense of relief.
Cheers erupted from the stands.
"That person is from Shohoku High School; I didn't expect his three-pointers to be quite accurate."
"Yeah, he's pretty good; he's already made two three-pointers."
Chiyo Shinhua, who was nearby, felt a hint of pride when she heard everyone praising Kogure.
Gu Jin's response on the court came even faster.
The moment he received the ball, he held it outside the three-point line, and facing Maki Shinichi's defense, he suddenly executed a behind-the-back dribble, then followed with a turn, driving into the restricted area almost brushing against Maki Shinichi's body.
Uozumi, understanding implicitly, pulled to the free-throw line, drawing Hasegawa's attention—when Gu Jin took off, he had an open basket in front of him, yet he suddenly tossed the ball over his head while in the air.
Uozumi leaped like an iron tower, single-handedly slamming the ball into the hoop!
7:4! The trembling of the hoop mixed with the screams of the audience made the air in the stadium feel hot.
The next ten minutes became a clash of two basketball philosophies.
Maki Shinichi connected Kogure and Hasegawa with precise passes, and Kogure's three-pointers became more resolute, even making a 2+1 against Godai's block on a fast break, bringing the score to 11:13.
When he made that crucial free throw, Chiyo Shinhua, with her art supplies bag on her back, quietly clenched her fists in the stands, her knuckles turning white.
But Gu Jin's solo play completely shattered the balance.
He first made continuous changes of direction outside the three-point line, then suddenly accelerated past Maki Shinichi, and facing Hasegawa's defensive assist, he directly made a pull-up layup, the basketball hitting the backboard at a strange angle before falling into the hoop. 15:11.
Then came another suffocating defensive counterattack.
Hasegawa tried to throw an alley-oop to Maki Shinichi, but Gu Jin suddenly burst out from behind and to the side, his long arm like an iron clamp intercepting the ball. After crossing the three-point line, he charged into the restricted area alone.
Maki Shinichi tried his best to block, but could only watch helplessly as Gu Jin leaped high near the free-throw arc, making an axe-handle dunk to extend the score to 16:11.
"A one-man show! Gu Jin's individual ability is terrifying!" The commentator's voice cracked, "He's like an out-of-control tank, crushing all defenses!"
In the last three minutes, Godai Tomokazu made his third three-pointer of the game, and Hasegawa also scored a difficult layup to narrow the gap, but Gu Jin's response was never absent.
His alley-oop to Uozumi brought the score to 19:12.
Godai's final buzzer-beating three-pointer completely ended the suspense—under Maki Shinichi's tight defense, he leaned back, almost lying flat in the air, yet the basketball, as if it had eyes, swished through the net.
When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard was fixed at 21:12.
The audience instantly erupted, the cheers almost tearing off the roof.
Someone threw mineral water bottles into the air, someone shouted Gu Jin's name at the top of their lungs, the strap of that canvas bag in the stands was clutched white, and the corner of the drawing paper inside, depicting a boy shooting, trembled slightly.
"King of One-on-One! Gu Jin is the true King of One-on-One!" The commentator roared into the microphone, sweat soaking his tie, "And their teamwork is seamless! Gu Jin's drive and dish, Godai's precise shooting, Uozumi's dominance in the restricted area—this isn't just one person's victory!"
He suddenly pointed to the three players hugging tightly, his voice abruptly rising: "This is a King Team! They deserve the name 'King Team'!"
Gu Jin looked up, his vision blurred by sweat, but he could see the surging crowd in the stands.
Godai was swinging his arms, and Uozumi's laughter made his ears tingle.
And in a corner unseen by Kogure, that gaze which had followed him for three summers finally dared to linger on him a little longer amidst the clamor.
"Kogure, even though you lost, you were still great!"
The scent of gunpowder had quietly permeated the air.
Due to the 3v3 format lasting only two days, the teams that advanced today had to play three full matches.
Gu Jin's King Team swept all three games, showing off their sharp edge, playing each match cleanly and decisively, as if possessing the absolute control that a "King" should have;
And the Sendo Squad also cut through thorns and thistles, similarly advancing with overwhelming victories. Some people began to crown this team "God of War," as if this squad exuded a ruthless spirit of killing any god they encountered.
The two-day schedule passed in a flash; tomorrow would be the head-to-head confrontation between these two undefeated teams.
On one side was the unstoppable King Team, and on the other, the irresistible God of War powerhouse. This showdown was destined to ignite the entire venue.
Currently, the hottest topic is: will Gu Jin's King Team continue its undefeated myth, or will Sendo's God of War Team stage a desperate comeback?
And the answer can only be revealed on the court tomorrow.