Slam Dunk: Muguro

Chapter 309: Outlasting the Fukuoka Team!
"Moroboshi Dai is probably seriously injured this time!"

After the match ended, Mitsui was the first to break the silence.

As is well known, injuries sustained without external force are often more severe.

Normally, injuries without external force are usually due to some kind of problem or severe wear and tear on the body.

Such injuries can significantly impact an athlete's career.

For example, in the 2006 World Cup group stage, "The Speedster" Owen was injured and had to leave the field in the first minute without contact.

At the time, it didn't seem like a big deal, but after nearly a year of recovery, Kyrie Irving never returned to his peak form.

Judging from the situation on the ground, it is very likely that Moroboshi will suffer a serious injury, or even follow in Ross's footsteps.

He made the same mistake as Rose: changing direction without slowing down. After doing this too many times, he was doomed.

Unless you have maximum injury resistance like Kogure, this kind of breakthrough is just playing with your athletic career.

"Alright, we should head back now and prepare for the next match."

Coach Taoka was the first to stand up and lead the way out.

As for Coach Anzai, he wasn't in good health, so he naturally stayed in the dormitory and slacked off.

For safety reasons, at Kogure's urging, Coach Kawasaki Kazumi stayed by Coach Anzai's side.

This is mainly to prevent Coach Anzai from falling ill like he did in the original story.

When the Kanagawa team reappeared in the gymnasium, it was already 2 p.m.

At this moment, the Dome Stadium is bustling with activity, every seat is taken, and thousands of spectators have gathered here.

They craned their necks, their faces beaming with excitement.

A group of familiar spectators gathered together, discussing their opinions and predictions for the match.

Overall, they favor the Kanagawa team.

First, the Kanagawa team received a higher rating.

Second, the Kanagawa team is the defending champion.

Third, the Kanagawa team has greater roster depth.

Nevertheless, many viewers still believe that the Fukuoka team has the potential to pull off an upset.

In terms of strength, the gap between the two sides is not significant.

At the same time, the Fukuoka team also has an advantage.

In terms of roster strength, the Kanagawa team is naturally stronger, boasting an 'All-Star' lineup.

Although the Fukuoka team's lineup is not as strong as the Kanagawa team's, they should not be underestimated, especially since their teamwork is far superior to that of Kanagawa.

The Kanagawa team is a mixed team, while the Fukuoka team is composed entirely of players from Hakata University of Commerce. The players' understanding and teamwork have reached a level of perfection.

Hakata University of Commerce Affiliated School is renowned for its team basketball; their teamwork is among the best in the country.

Compared to the previous match, this match was full of suspense and naturally attracted more anticipation from the audience.

As both teams left the players' tunnel, they were greeted with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

"Kanagawa, Kanagawa!"

"Fukuoka, Fukuoka!"

Even before the match started, applause and cheers erupted from the stands.

Among them, the Kanagawa team's momentum was subtly superior to that of the Fukuoka team.

Kogure certainly played a part in this.

Because it was the final, many fans of Kogure came all the way from Kanagawa.

Inspired by their passion, many women from Akita joined the 'Kogure no Mikoto' organization.

In a short time, Kogure's popularity soared.

They were wearing matching T-shirts with a chibi version of Kogure's face printed on them.

With their uniform attire, actions, and slogans, they created a truly impressive spectacle, becoming a striking sight in the stadium.

If you look closely, you'll notice that their T-shirts are the same style as Kogure's usual attire.

In the SD manga, Kogure's T-shirt appears in several scenes, and each one is different.

Why don't I have any female fans?

Mitsui expressed his sincere envy at this scene.

He couldn't help but look towards the stands, where the three members of the Horita Tokuo trio were, as always, cheering him on.

He was surrounded by a group of men, all of whom were also cheering for Mitsui.

Nan Lie joked, "Is it possible that they like being gay?"

"I'm used to it, what's there to envy!"

Kishimoto shrugged and subconsciously looked at Fujima.

Like Kogure, Fujima also has a group of female fans, but his popularity is much lower than that of Kogure.

Soon, the coaching teams of the two teams stood side by side, the atmosphere between them both friendly and tense.

"Teacher Anzai, please give me your guidance in this match!"

Coach Tajiri stood before Coach Anzai with a humble demeanor and spoke with great respect.

"Oh ho ho ho, Coach Tajiri, you're too kind!"

Coach Anzai let out his signature laugh and then firmly grasped Coach Tajiri's large hand.

While the two coaches were exchanging pleasantries, the players from both teams began to warm up on the field.

From dribbling to passing to jumping shots, every movement was executed with such focus and seriousness.

Swish~swish~swish~
As the sound of the basketball rubbing against the net rang out, Mitsui appeared in various positions outside the three-point line to shoot, each shot accurately piercing the net.

Mitsui's movements were elegant, and every move he made exuded confidence.

Today, he felt his touch was incredibly hot, as if the basket itself were as vast as the ocean.

After the warm-up, both teams gradually got into the game.

Both teams began their final preparations.

Kogure patted Mitsui on the shoulder and said, "Mitsui, I can tell you're in great form today. Don't worry, I'll be ready to pass you the ball all the time. You just need to be ready to receive the ball and score!"

Mitsui immediately responded with a confident smile; his score today could potentially reach a new high.

Beep~
Soon, the referee blew the whistle, and both sides fielded their starting lineups.

Kanagawa's starting lineup is different from the last game; they fielded a combination of Shohoku's four stars plus Maki.

The four stars of Shohoku are excellent in both offense and defense, and their teamwork is far more seamless than that of a mixed lineup.

On the other side, the Fukuoka team fielded its main lineup led by Nobisuke Suzuki.

As both teams took to the field, the audience chanted the names of their favorite teams and players.

During the jump ball, thanks to his height and wingspan advantage, Nohisa Suzuki was the first to touch the basketball.

Fukuoka's point guard steadily dribbled the ball past half-court and began to organize the team's attack.

Nohisa Suzuki immediately set a screen, and the point guard from Fukuoka drove to the basket.

After drawing the defense, Fukuoka's point guard passed the ball to Suzuki Nohisuke, who was cutting towards the basket.

At this moment, Maki was standing close to Suzuki Nohisuke.

In terms of combat ability, Maki is not much inferior to Suzuki Nohisuke.

However, Nohisuke Suzuki also has the advantage of height and wingspan.

After receiving the basketball, Nohisa Suzuki scored with a hook shot using a high-reaching, high-hitting technique.

shuh~
The basketball swished through the net, and cheers erupted from the stands.

The two players were 20 centimeters apart in height, rendering Maki's interference ineffective. To avoid Kanagawa launching a fast break, the Fukuoka team quickly retreated to defense.

Soon, Amu dribbled the ball past half-court.

The Fukuoka point guard moved nimbly and immediately went to meet him, putting a step's distance between himself and Maki.

This distance will neither allow Amu to break through easily, nor will it relieve him of the defensive pressure on Amu.

Beyond the three-point line, Amu leaned slightly forward, as if ready to launch an attack at any moment.

At this moment, Kogure stepped forward to set a screen.

Amu seized the opportunity to break through, his style similar to gOat, combining speed and power, and quickly rushed towards the basket.

After drawing the attention of the Fukuoka players, Maki quickly passed the ball to Kogure, who was cutting into the basket.

The atmosphere on the court instantly became tense the moment Kogure received the ball.

The audience's eyes were focused on Kogure, anticipating his next move.

Facing the switch-on point guard from Fukuoka, Kogure's move was almost identical to that of Nohisuke Suzuki in the previous possession, easily scoring with a hook shot.

The difference is that Kogure's hook technique is more fluid.

This scene gave Suzuki Nobisuke a huge headache.

He was clearly the proper inside player, but his inside skills were simply inferior to Kogure's, who didn't have a clearly defined position.

When it was Fukuoka's turn to attack, the Fukuoka point guard slowly dribbled the ball past half-court and began to organize the team's attack.

Maki immediately stepped up and used aggressive defense to put immense pressure on Fukuoka's point guard.

Fukuoka's point guard is quite strong, but he is still inferior in physical confrontations.

He had to switch to dribbling sideways, struggling to defend against Amu.

Under Maki's defense, Fukuoka's point guard's vision was affected, and he couldn't find any opportunities.

In this situation, Suzuki Nobisuke took the initiative to step forward and provide cover.

With the help of Suzuki Nobisuke's screen, Fukuoka's point guard decisively drove to the basket.

Maki quickly turned around and rushed towards the Fukuoka point guard.

Akagi did not switch positions, keeping a close eye on Suzuki Nohisuke.

Seeing that his teammates had no opportunity, the Fukuoka point guard had no choice but to prepare to take a shot.

Just then, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side.

Before the Fukuoka point guard could react, the basketball was instantly lost from his hands.

slap~
The one who stole the ball was none other than Kogure!

Fast break!

Kogure bent down, grabbed the basketball, and with a powerful push off the ground, his body shot towards the frontcourt like an arrow.

Almost simultaneously, the Kanagawa players responded to their coach's instructions and rushed forward to try to gain a favorable position before the opponent's defense could solidify.

At this moment, the Fukuoka players seemed somewhat caught off guard.

Although they were trying to track back, some players still fell behind.
For a time, a five-on-four situation emerged in some areas.

After drawing the defense, Kogure showcased his passing skills.

He accurately assessed the situation on the court and discovered that Mitsui had shaken off the defender and had an excellent scoring opportunity.

Without hesitation, Kogure bounced the ball down the ground, and it landed perfectly in Mitsui's hands.

After receiving the ball, Mitsui made almost no pause and steadily shot a three-pointer.

shuh~
The basketball traced a perfect parabola through the air, passing through the rim with a crisp sound.

A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the audience, applauding the wonderful teamwork.

The game continues, with the Kanagawa team employing a "one-star, four-shooter" tactic.

Both Kogure and Akagi can serve as the core, and the two cooperate extremely well, which is why they are called the 'Kogure Link' by some fans!
Kogure is not only the team's top scorer, but also the soul of the Kanagawa team, always able to accurately pass the ball to his teammates.

This has caused the Fukuoka players a great deal of trouble.

In a one-on-one situation, facing Kogure is no different from giving away points.

However, when double-teamed, Kogure is always able to quickly find an open teammate and pass the ball accurately.

In short, they were unable to limit Kogure's performance.

Under Kogure's organization, the Kanagawa team's attack was orchestrated in a well-organized manner.

On the other side, the Fukuoka team remained the same, continuing to play their forte: team basketball.

Their teamwork was extremely seamless, so smooth that it could only be described as flowing water. Like a tightly running machine, each player was an indispensable part of the machine, working together to propel the team forward.

Their teamwork was perfectly demonstrated on the court, and they were always able to produce brilliant plays.

Whether it's pick-and-roll plays or quick ball movement, they can execute them seamlessly, making them unpredictable and difficult for opponents to defend.

For a time, the two sides were evenly matched, with the score fluctuating back and forth.

However, upon closer observation, it can be observed that the pace of the game has accelerated.

This is undoubtedly extremely advantageous for the Kanagawa team!

The Kanagawa team has an unparalleled advantage in roster depth.

If Fukuoka's main force is worn down, Kanagawa can easily defeat the opponent by utilizing the depth of their formation.

Coach Tajiri on the Fukuoka bench clearly noticed this phenomenon as well.

His brow was furrowed. Since Kenjiro Itakura graduated and left the team, the team had lost an important 'metronome'.

Although the player who replaced him was quite capable, he lacked the ability to control the tempo of the game.

This is the key factor that allowed Fukuoka to be constrained by Kanagawa.

beep~
Coach Tajiri had to call a timeout.

When the timeout ended, Coach Tajiri was surprised to find that the Kanagawa National Team had changed its lineup.

Center: Naito

Ohmae: Mugure

Komae: Mitsui

Shooting Guard: Nan Lie

Point Guard: Fujima

This lineup consists of Shohoku and Shoyo, and their teamwork is quite good. They can play a one-star-four-shooter strategy, as well as a run-and-gun offense.

When the match resumed, it wasn't long before Fukuoka fell into his opponent's rhythm again and couldn't break free.

Spicy balls!

In the audience, Coach Domoto frowned and shook his head.

It must be admitted that the Kanagawa team has a huge advantage in terms of lineup.

They have up to three lineups that can be switched at will, and the players in each position have excellent technical skills and tactical understanding.

When the game enters a critical moment, the Kanagawa coaching team can flexibly switch lineups according to the situation on the field.

Even with a change in lineup, the overall strength of the Kanagawa team will not decrease much, allowing them to remain competitive in matches.

This flexibility allows them to quickly adjust when facing different opponents and game situations, providing stable support for the team.

This not only provides the team with more tactical options, but also allows key players to have ample rest time, ensuring they can perform at their best in crucial moments.

In contrast, the Fukuoka team's squad depth is clearly inferior to that of Kanagawa, and once their key players are substituted, they often struggle to shoulder the responsibility of the game.

It's clear that Kanagawa wants to wear down its opponent.

(End of this chapter)