Slam Dunk: Sakuragi learned from Kawamura Eiki's experience

Chapter 99 Glasses Guy's Three-Point Shot

The game continued, and after Mitsui, whose stamina was completely depleted, left the court, Shohoku's lineup consisted of Sakuragi, Rukawa, Kogure, Akagi, and—

—The Emperor Kakuta, with a 100% win rate.

Ryonan has possession. Sendoh Akira dribbles past half-court, stops the ball at the top of the arc, and, facing Rukawa Kaede's defense, lobs the ball to Uozumi Jun in the low post with one hand. As the ball is released, Sendoh begins to run, and Fukuda Kichijo cuts from the weak side.

Uozumi, backing down Akagi, leaned towards the baseline and immediately passed the ball to Fukuda. Upon receiving the ball, Sakuragi immediately blocked Fukuda's layup and shooting routes. Sendoh cut towards the basket, and Uozumi set a screen, spreading his arms to simultaneously block Rukawa and Akagi.

After setting a screen with Uozumi to shake off Rukawa, Sendoh received a pass from Fukuda and pulled up for a shot over Kakuta's onslaught.

Ryonan is now leading by 2 points again.

As the game transitioned from offense to defense, Sakuragi Hanamichi had just received Kogure's baseline serve and hadn't even had a chance to dribble past the center line when two figures in blue and white surged forward like a tide.

Sendoh was in front, and Koshino was on the flank. All four hands blocked Sakuragi's dribbling route, their footwork was tight, and their physical confrontation was at its maximum.

In the final moments, Ryonan unleashed a full-court press.

But Sakuragi didn't panic. He lowered his center of gravity to protect the ball, slammed his shoulder into Sendoh's chest, and used his waist and abdomen to forcefully crush through the gap between the two.

Seeing Sakuragi forcefully break through the double-team with his physical strength, Taoka clenched his fist again!

Sakuragi's exceptional physical abilities were on full display at this moment.

"Damn the school board." Taoka gritted his teeth.

The sneakers screeched sharply on the floor. Sakuragi broke through the double team and glanced up at the frontcourt. Rukawa had already run to the three-point line.

Sakuragi pushed the ball out from his chest with both hands, making a long pass across the halfway line, and accurately placed it into Rukawa's hands.

As soon as Rukawa received the ball, Ryoji Ikegami immediately closed in. With Mitsui off the court, Ikegami's task changed from sticking to Shohoku's number 14 to locking down Shohoku's number 11.

Taoka's defensive strategy was clear: Sakuragi and Rukawa were Shohoku's only remaining offensive strengths, and they had to be suppressed with all their might.

With Akagi and Uozumi keeping an eye on him inside, there shouldn't be any major problems.

As for the two substitutes, Kogure and Kakuta, they can be left out.

Facing Ikegami's tight defense, Rukawa pushed off with his right foot and used his speed to forcefully break through from Ikegami's right side. He cut one step inside the free-throw line, and Uozumi and Fukuda immediately collapsed from both sides to double-team him.

Rukawa abruptly stopped and jumped, his body leaning slightly backward in the air. He flicked his wrist, and the ball bounced off the front edge of the rim.

The rebound bounced towards Uozumi. Taoka Shigeichi's eyes lit up on the sidelines, and he involuntarily leaned forward half an inch.

opportunity!

Uozumi and Akagi simultaneously leaped into the air, their large hands reaching out towards the spinning basketball in mid-air.

Akagi's finger first poked the ball, then with a gentle tap, sent it flying again. The two landed simultaneously, leaping up once more to contest the ball.

A red figure burst in from beyond the three-point line, leaping skyward with a speed a beat faster than anyone else. Sakuragi Hanamichi, arriving just above Uozumi and Akagi, snatched the rebound.

"Gorilla!"

As soon as Sakuragi landed, he passed the ball to Akagi beside him.

Akagi caught the ball, blocked Uozumi behind him, took a step and jumped, holding the basketball high with both hands, and slammed it down on the rim.

"Signature Gorilla Dunk"

Clang! The basketball hoop shook violently.

The score is tied again.

As the game transitioned, Sendoh Akira dribbled the ball across half-court again, and Rukawa Kaede stuck to him very closely this time, knowing that Ryonan had no reliable three-point shooters besides Sendoh.

Therefore, we should allow shots but not drives, forcing Sendoh towards the inside and letting Akagi and Sakuragi cover for him.

Sendoh stopped the ball at the top of the arc and continued to lob it to Uozumi. After receiving the ball, Uozumi leaned against Akagi, but he still didn't force a shot, his eyes scanning the court.

Uozumi passed the ball to Koshino this time. Koshino received the ball, faked out Kakuta's defense, and made a successful layup.

Ryonan is now leading by 2 points again.

Taoka slammed his fist on the sidelines.

With Mitsui and Miyagi off the court, the replacements Kakuta and Kogure from Shohoku are weaknesses that can be exploited on the defensive end.

Now Ryonan's defensive focus can be placed unreservedly on Sakuragi and Rukawa, forcing Shohoku into making mistakes.

Meanwhile, Uozumi's support can also score points from Kogure and Kakuta.

Shohoku goes on offense. Sakuragi has just received the serve from Kogure when Sendoh and Koshino pounce on him again.

This time, their pressing was even more aggressive than before. Sendoh blocked Sakuragi's right side, and Koshino blocked his left side. Their four hands constantly disrupted Sakuragi's dribbling rhythm and blocked passing routes. Sakuragi took a deep breath, his shoulders slumped, and once again used brute force to crush through the two of them.

After breaking through the double team, he passed the ball to Rukawa Kaede, who was receiving it. Then, he made an off-ball run and rushed towards the frontcourt, shaking off Sendoh and Koshino's entanglement with him in a few big strides. After crossing half-court, he waved for the ball again outside the three-point line.

Rukawa passed the ball back to him. Sakuragi had just received the ball when Sendoh and Koshino were already back in, the double team closing in again. At the same time, Fukuda rushed out from the inside, forming a triple team.

Just before the double team closed in, Sakuragi made a bounce pass. The ball bounced up from the gap between Sendoh and Koshino, flying precisely to Kogure Kiminobu, who was completely left open in the corner.

"Throw it! Glasses-kun!" Sakuragi's roar exploded.

Kiminobu Kogure caught the ball, his fingers trembling slightly as he touched the rough, grainy texture of the skin. Everything around him suddenly went silent; Ikegami was lunging towards him, but it was too late.

Taoka stared wide-eyed at the sidelines. Every single one of the Shohoku students in the stands lifted off their seats.

Kogure bent his knees, raised the ball, and flicked it with his wrist. The ball traced a moderate arc in the air, spinning perfectly.

Swish! Three points in the net.

The Shohoku bench erupted. Miyagi sprang from his chair, tossing a towel over his head. Mitsui jerked his water bottle up. Yasuda and Shiozaki hugged each other, jumping and shouting.

Shohoku finally took the lead, even if it was by just one point.

Akagi walked up to Kogure and patted him on the shoulder with such force that Kogure staggered forward half a step.

"Well done, Glasses-kun!" Sakuragi walked over from the side, patted Kogure on the back, and grinned from ear to ear.

Kogure's three-pointer boosted Shohoku's morale.

In the transition between offense and defense, Sendoh Akira once again received the ball at the top of the arc, lobbed the ball to Uozumi, and then began to make off-the-ball runs.

He cut inside, Rukawa close behind. Then Koshino ran up from the side and positioned himself next to Rukawa. Screen and pick.

Rukawa was momentarily caught by Koshino's body. Sendoh used the screen to shake off Rukawa and cut to the corner, where Uozumi's pass arrived almost simultaneously.

Sendoh receives the ball, jumps, and shoots a three-pointer over Kogure Kiminobu who is rushing towards him.

The ball had just left Sendoh's fingertips—when a red figure leaped into the air from behind Kogure. Sakuragi Hanamichi stretched his right arm to its limit and slapped the ball away the instant it left Sendoh's fingers.

"Beautiful!" The Shohoku bench erupted in cheers.

Taoka Shigeichi stood on the sidelines, mouth agape, eyes wide like saucers.

How did Sakuragi end up there? He was clearly marking Fukuda on the weak side and following Fukuda as he made a cut, so how did he suddenly appear here?