Fukatsu plus Sawakita?
Can this kid really handle that?
After the timeout, Sannoh's players returned to the court, all of them subconsciously locking their gazes onto Nango.
Coach Domoto's words still echoed in their minds—but to be honest, many of them felt his judgment was excessive.
Fukatsu and Sawakita were the undisputed No.1 players at their respective positions.
Nango's performance was impressive, yes—but placing him on the same level as those two?
That was hard to accept.
Shohoku's possession began.
Contrary to expectations, Nango didn't go inside to wrestle for position. Instead, he stood calmly at the left 45-degree angle beyond the three-point line.
Kawata Masashi didn't dare to rush out to defend him recklessly. As a result, Sawakita stayed on Nango, while Kawata guarded the corner, keeping an eye on Mitsui's three-point threat.
Nango smirked.
"Didn't you keep yelling about wanting to go one-on-one with me? Then why'd you run without the ball just now and dump it to Kawata? What—got scared?"
Sawakita's veins bulged as he snapped back,
"You brat! Keep being arrogant! You'll pay for it sooner or later!"
After that, no matter how Nango provoked him, Sawakita endured it.
Because he had figured something out.
If the score stayed close, Fukatsu would continue prioritizing team play—and Sawakita might never get the ball.
But once Sannoh overtook the score, or better yet, built a clear lead?
Then Fukatsu would have no reason to refuse him.
So now, Sawakita had only one goal:
Take the lead first.
Crush Nango later.
Then board a plane to America and reach the pinnacle of life.
Miyagi stared at Fukatsu in surprise.
This guy… he's bending even lower than me?
In truth, Fukatsu was in an uncomfortable position.
Quick, agile guards like Miyagi were exactly the type he struggled with. To prevent a sudden breakthrough, he had no choice but to lower his center of gravity and stay glued to him.
The two stalemated for a moment—
Then Nango stepped forward and set a screen.
Miyagi burst forward, slipping past both defenders.
But Sawakita reacted instantly, stepping in to cut off the lane before Miyagi could accelerate. With no space to attack, Miyagi halted and protected the ball.
Recognizing the danger, he immediately passed it back.
Nango caught it—Nango versus Fukatsu, back to their original matchup.
But Sannoh had no intention of allowing a clean one-on-one.
As soon as Sawakita finished helping on Miyagi, he spun around and double-teamed Nango.
Nango didn't hesitate.
He kicked the ball out to the now-unmarked Miyagi.
Miyagi stepped into the free-throw area and pulled up—
Swish!
The ball slid cleanly through the net.
Yet instead of celebrating, Nango frowned slightly.
Is Sannoh… gambling?
Normally, teams avoided double-teaming a 194-centimeter player like him. If the defenders weren't of equal height, he could always pass out—and once the ball moved, it often meant an open shot.
Just like that possession.
Which meant only one thing.
Sannoh is betting that Shohoku's others won't keep hitting.
Nango's lips curled into a faint smile.
Then let's gamble.
He decided to become a decoy on offense, drawing pressure to create chances for his teammates—
and to pour everything he had into defense, disrupting Sannoh's precise cooperation.
Fukatsu advanced the ball.
He had a clear matchup advantage over Miyagi, but he didn't rush to attack. His goal was still to connect the entire team.
Rukawa Kaede, having just recovered some stamina, once again guarded Sawakita. Fortunately, Sawakita was temporarily prioritizing team play, which spared Rukawa some exhaustion.
Nango matched up against Kawata.
Unlike Akagi, he didn't anchor himself under the basket. Instead, he positioned himself between Kawata and the rim, ready to contest mid-range shots or rotate for help defense at any moment.
Suddenly—
Matsumoto shook off Mitsui and cut toward the basket.
Fukatsu flicked his wrist.
The pass arrived instantly.
Matsumoto caught the ball and drove deeper, but Sakuragi stepped in to block him. That single moment opened space—
Little Kawata cut down hard.
Sakuragi noticed it.
But he trusted Nango behind him.
Matsumoto shuffled his feet, spotted the opening, and delivered a bounce pass.
Little Kawata caught it, turned, and raised the ball—
Slap!
Nango flew in from the side, swatting the ball upward before snatching it cleanly out of the air.
"Idiot!" Big Kawata cursed, spinning and sprinting back.
Nango took off in transition.
Fukatsu and Sawakita didn't rush to double-team him. Instead, they closed in from both sides, wary of Shohoku's trailers.
A reckless trap would just gift Shohoku easy points.
As they crossed half-court, Sawakita stepped inside the three-point line.
Fukatsu moved up to delay.
At that moment—
Nango fired the ball to Miyagi.
Miyagi took three steps and went up for the layup.
Sawakita soared.
Miyagi had a chance to pass—but he chose to challenge fate.
Slap!
Sawakita smashed the ball out of bounds.
Looking down at Miyagi, he chuckled.
"Did you really think I'd let that go in?"
Tch…
This guy is seriously annoying.
Miyagi retrieved the ball, frustration written all over his face.
Shohoku ran another pick-and-roll.
Under pressure, Nango again passed out to Miyagi.
Same spot.
Miyagi rose—
—but this time, he overcompensated.
The shot bounced off.
Little Kawata secured the rebound.
Fukatsu immediately pushed the ball forward and passed to Matsumoto.
Seeing Matsumoto's effectiveness earlier, Fukatsu intentionally let him continue attacking.
Matsumoto faced Mitsui, drove close—
then suddenly exploded forward.
Sakuragi rotated again.
Little Kawata cut once more.
This time, Matsumoto checked Nango's position first.
Seeing Nango drifting toward the paint, he didn't pass immediately. Instead, he used a sharp change of direction to create horizontal space from Sakuragi and slid along the baseline.
Got you.
Matsumoto jumped from the edge of the restricted area.
Nango rose with him.
Mid-air, Matsumoto grinned smugly and switched the ball to his left hand, preparing to pass again.
Let's see how you stop this!
But in the next instant—
His expression froze.
What the hell?!
Nango, twisted into an almost impossible posture, caught the pass in mid-air.
"Heh. I knew you'd do that."
Landing, Nango instantly threw the ball forward.
Defense complete.
Now came offense.
Rukawa Kaede took the ball and charged ahead.
Fukatsu pursued from behind.
They stormed into the paint—one leading, one chasing.
Rukawa knew Sawakita was behind him.
But he didn't believe Sawakita could stop this.
He lifted the ball—
Slap!
Slap!
Both leapt at nearly the same moment.
Their heights were nearly identical.
And the instant Rukawa exposed the ball—
Slap!
Sawakita's arm whipped down—
—and blocked it cleanly.