Inside the Shohoku team's locker room.
"Oh dear! If we had managed to grab that rebound and put it in, we would have been 11 points ahead of Shohoku at the end of the first half."
"Yes! It feels great to go into halftime with a double-digit lead!"
"Hmm, it seems we still need to strengthen our inside game and improve our interior defense."
At that moment, Kenji Fujima walked into the locker room. He smiled slightly and said calmly, "Everyone played very well in the first half. Not only did we lead Shohoku by 9 points, but Shohoku is also starting to show signs of fatigue, especially Akagi and Mitsui. If everyone maintains this level of performance in the second half and overwhelms them, we'll definitely win!"
"Alright! Let's do our best!" the Xiangyang team shouted in unison.
However, at this moment, Kenji Fujima walked up to Toru Hanagata and said seriously, "Hanagata, be careful of Shohoku's number 10's ability to grab rebounds!"
Hanagata Toru took a sip of water, smiled calmly, and said, "Don't worry, I know. His jumping ability is indeed amazing, but judging from his performance in all aspects, he is just physically strong. In terms of technique, he is not much of a threat. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a basketball beginner."
Then Hanagata Toru got up to go to the toilet.
But as Fujima Kenji watched Hanagata Toru leave, he clearly had something he wanted to say but didn't have the chance to say it.
Kenji Fujima had a vague feeling that Shohoku's number 10 was a bit unusual.
Although Sakuragi Hanamichi, who was known as the "dunk master," didn't have any outstanding basketball skills, his two plays with Rukawa Kaede, his screen for Mitsui Hisashi, and his steal of the ball from Hanagata Toru under the basket were all very impressive!
More importantly, his rebounding ability!
All of this shows that Sakuragi Hanamichi, a basketball novice, should never be underestimated; he could very well be the key to deciding the outcome of the game.
The second half of the game has begun.
The two sides jumped for the ball again.
It was Takenori Akagi and Toru Hanagata jumping the ball in the center circle.
Unexpectedly, at the start of the second half, Hanagata Toru slapped the basketball, and the ball flew towards Ito Taku.
Because of his height disadvantage, Miyagi Ryota will undoubtedly be able to get the ball easily by Ito Taku.
But just then!
A tall figure suddenly appeared in front of Ito Taku!
Shobei No. 10!
It's Sakuragi Hanamichi!
Sakuragi Hanamichi leaped into the air and snatched the basketball that was flying towards Ito Taku.
However, after getting the basketball, Sakuragi Hanamichi angrily said, "What's wrong with that gorilla? Can't he even jump over Hanagata in a jump ball? What on earth is he doing?"
Then, right in front of Ito Taku, Sakuragi Hanamichi passed the ball to Miyagi Ryota.
In an instant, the entire Shohoku team launched an attack.
Sakuragi Hanamichi rushed to the inside and formed a pincer movement with Akagi Takenori. At the same time, Takano Shoichi and Hanagata Toru also came up to defend Sakuragi Hanamichi and Akagi Takenori respectively.
Ryota Miyagi seized the opportunity and passed the basketball to Kaede Rukawa.
After receiving the ball, Rukawa Kaede opted for a mid-range shot.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, Mitsuru Nagano and Kazushi Hasegawa jumped at the same time to interfere with Kaede Rukawa's mid-range shot.
But Rukawa Kaede was fearless and forced his way in.
However, after the basketball was released, Rukawa Kaede frowned. He had a vague feeling that Hasegawa Kazushi's fingers had touched the basketball.
The basketball slammed into the rim with a loud thud.
The ball didn't go in.
As expected, it was Hasegawa Kazushi who interfered.
It's time to grab the rebound again!
At this moment, the basketball clearly slid towards Takenori Akagi and Toru Hanagata, and it was time for the two centers to face off again!
Akagi Takenori and Hanagata Toru jumped at the same time!
With a "smack"!
A pair of large hands caught the basketball in mid-air!
It's a flower-shaped translucent flower!
"What?! Even the Gorilla lost the rebound to Hanagata? What on earth is that Gorilla doing? He lost the jump ball to Hanagata, and now he's lost the rebound too. No! This isn't the Gorilla I know!" Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted in disbelief.
After grabbing the rebound, Hanagata Toru immediately threw the ball to the outside while shouting, "Fast break!"
With a "whoosh"!
The basketball flew towards Ito Taku on the outside!
But just then!
Sakuragi Hanamichi's figure reappeared between the basketball and Ito Taku.
At this moment, Hanagata Toru was completely shocked. He said in disbelief, "Sakuragi Hanamichi was just under the basket a moment ago, how did he suddenly appear in that position? He's so unpredictable!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi stole the basketball once again!
Ito Taku watched helplessly as Sakuragi Hanamichi intercepted the pass he received from Hanagata Toru, and he cursed angrily, "Damn it!"
After receiving the basketball, Sakuragi Hanamichi did not pass it, but instead chose to dribble and lay up himself!
At that moment, Miyagi Ryota and Rukawa Kaede shouted at the same time, "Don't rush, pass the ball first!"
Objectively speaking, it would be very unwise for Sakuragi Hanamichi to dribble straight to the basket right now, because Shohoku's Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi are waiting for him under the basket.
Moreover, based on everyone's understanding of Sakuragi Hanamichi, his layups are generally successful only when he is unguarded. When he is guarded, it is usually his highlight moment when he uses the "head-slamming dunk".
Could it be that Sakuragi Hanamichi is planning to hit someone on the head with a basketball again?
Akagi Takenori's eyelids twitched involuntarily under the basket. Before the game started, Coach Anzai had specifically told Sakuragi Hanamichi to restrain himself and not foul out. Did this guy want to foul again?
Akagi Takenori couldn't help but say, "Sakuragi, don't do anything reckless!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi, dribbling the ball, roared, "Gorilla! Watch how I wake you up!"
Many viewers were shocked by these words.
"What? He said he wants to fight Akagi Takenori?"
"Is this number 10 from Shohoku planning an indiscriminate attack? Does he want to smash Akagi Takenori's head with a basketball?"
"My God! Seeing is believing, the master of Guan Tou is terrifying! He even wants to smash his own people?"
Meanwhile, Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi were not bothered by Sakuragi Hanamichi's words. They were ready to block Sakuragi Hanamichi's shot if he actually went for a layup!
As for whether Sakuragi Hanamichi will hit himself on the head with a basketball, that's not important at all. It would be even better if he dared to do so, so that he could foul out early and Shohoku's interior defense would be completely dismantled!
At this moment, Sakuragi Hanamichi had already jumped with the ball!
Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi jumped up to the rhythm at the same time, determined to teach Sakuragi Hanamichi a lesson this time.
"What? He wasn't trying to dunk or shoot!" Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi exclaimed in confusion after jumping.
They couldn't understand what Sakuragi Hanamichi's shooting posture meant.
Because this wasn't a shot aimed at the basketball hoop at all!
Sakuragi Hanamichi is clearly shooting the ball towards the backboard!
Could it be that he's trying to score with a backboard shot?
That doesn't make sense!
This kind of layup technique is generally not one that anyone would choose to bank shot, and most importantly, no matter from any angle, Sakuragi Hanamichi's shot has no chance of going in.
What on earth is he up to?
Suddenly, Sakuragi Hanamichi slammed the basketball into the backboard from mid-air.
As expected, the basketball did not go into the hoop.
It's time to grab the rebound again!
As if he had anticipated all of this, Sakuragi Hanamichi jumped in the direction the basketball bounced after landing!
It seems that Sakuragi Hanamichi did all this just so he could smash the backboard and then grab the rebound himself.
Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi cursed under their breath, "Damn it! This Sakuragi Hanamichi is just too reckless!"
However, because Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi were a little later than Sakuragi Hanamichi, Sakuragi Hanamichi had already grabbed the rebound in mid-air when they jumped.
Akagi Takenori also jumped at the same time, but he couldn't beat Sakuragi Hanamichi.
At that moment, Takenori Akagi was certain that this must be a new tactic invented by Hanamichi Sakuragi!
First, pretend to dribble a layup or dunk, but actually aim for the backboard. Then, seize the opportunity to grab the rebound. In this opening, you also fool the opponent's defense. Finally, you can dunk in the air or jump again immediately after landing.
Akagi Takenori murmured admiringly, "Sakuragi really doesn't play by the rules! But his ingenious tactic is indeed quite good."
Just when Akagi Takenori thought Sakuragi Hanamichi was about to dunk in an alley-oop.
Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly performed an alley-oop and continued to smash the backboard!
"What? What is he doing? Why didn't he shoot or dunk just now? Why did he slam the basketball into the backboard?"
At this moment, this question arose in the minds of countless people.
However, most people subconsciously assume that it's because Sakuragi Hanamichi's basketball skills are too poor that he can't perform those difficult moves.
From the stands, Kiyota Nobunaga of the Shanghai South team loudly mocked, "Sakuragi Hanamichi is indeed a basketball novice! He wasted such a good opportunity like that, oh ho ho ho, that's hilarious..."
Meanwhile, Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi didn't care about anything else. Since Sakuragi Hanamichi hadn't made the shot, he could forget about getting the rebound!
Akagi Takenori immediately jumped up with a look of urgency, determined not to let the Shohoku team steal the rebound. At the same time, Akagi Takenori cursed inwardly, "Sakuragi is still no good!"
Go for the rebound!
Another thrilling moment for the rebound!
This time it was clear that Akagi Takenori was at a disadvantage under the combined attack of Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi.
It's highly likely that the Shohoku team will get this rebound!
But just then!
What happened next was something no one could believe!
"Oh my god! What's going on? It's him again? That number 10 from Shohoku!!!"
"No way! He actually grabbed the rebound himself! He actually got the rebound again!"
"Did I see that right? He can jump twice in a row, and he grabbed two rebounds in a row! That's amazing!"
After landing, Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly jumped again. At the crucial moment when Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi were overpowering Akagi Takenori, Sakuragi Hanamichi's terrifying body actually landed on top of Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi!
With a loud "boom!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi caught the basketball with both hands in mid-air.
Both Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi showed expressions of shock. This Sakuragi Hanamichi was simply a monster!
How can he have such amazing jumping ability?
How dare he act so recklessly under the basket?
What exactly is he doing? Why is he doing this?
Was he deliberately playing a trick on us?
Suddenly, in the stands, Aida Hikoichi pointed at Sakuragi Hanamichi in shock and exclaimed in disbelief, "Could it be! Could it be that Sakuragi is deliberately padding his rebounding stats???"
At the same time, Sakuragi Hanamichi, who had grabbed the rebound again, landed and looked at Akagi Takenori, roaring, "Gorilla! Did you see that? This is how a man should behave under the basket! Look at the way you were acting like you were constipated, it was so embarrassing!"
After saying that, Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly jumped up again, shouting angrily, "Gorilla! Do you remember the moves you taught me to grab a rebound? Come on! Let me see if you're still the gorilla I know!"
At that moment, Takenori Akagi was struck as if by lightning, his whole body trembling!
Immediately afterwards, he felt a surge of heat rush to the top of his head!
He never expected that he, as the team captain, would be taught a lesson by Sakuragi Hanamichi, a basketball novice.
But he had to admit that Sakuragi Hanamichi was just too fierce! Too motivated! Too skilled!
He was deeply influenced by Sakuragi Hanamichi's performance and words!
He finally understood what Sakuragi Hanamichi meant by "I'll wake you up."
At this moment, a scene that shocked everyone appeared once again!
Sakuragi Hanamichi jumped again with the basketball in his hands, but instead of shooting or dunking, he slammed the basketball hard against the backboard, just like before!
Go for the rebound!
It's time to grab the rebound again!
Akagi Takenori roared and leaped into the air!
At the same time, Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi, who felt they had been tricked, jumped up again.
With a "smack"!
A pair of large hands gripped the basketball tightly in mid-air.
Takenori Akagi!
This time it's Takenori Akagi!
Akagi Takenori caught the basketball with both hands in mid-air and immediately slammed it violently into the hoop!
With a loud "boom!"
Aerial relay!
Powerful dunk!
Takenori Akagi gripped the basketball hoop tightly with both hands.
The basketball slammed into the net!
Xiangbei scores 2 points!
The score between Shohoku and Shoyo became 31-24, with the difference narrowing to 7 points.
At this moment, the entire venue erupted in cheers!
"Ah! Alley-oop, powerful dunk! So cool! So powerful!"
"My God! I have a feeling that it was Shohoku's number 10 who deliberately did that under the basket just now, just to create a scoring opportunity for number 4!"
"Shohoku's defense under the basket is so strong!"
"As expected of the man who set the tournament rebounding record, Shohoku's number 10, the red-haired Sakuragi Hanamichi, is amazing!"
The players on the Shohoku bench jumped up and shouted, "Ah! The kingpin under the basket! The captain finally made a shot! That's awesome! Go captain!"
"Shobei! Shobei! Shobei!"
"Only 7 points left in the gap! Come on, everyone!"
At this moment, sweat poured down Toru Hanagata's face as he stared in shock at Shohoku's number 10, Sakuragi Hanamichi.
This guy is so unpredictable! I can't predict his moves at all! Is he really a basketball novice?
In the rest area of the Shohoku team, Kenji Fujima looked at Hanamichi Sakuragi with a serious expression. As expected, his judgment was correct. The person who turned the tide at the crucial moment was indeed the unpredictable Hanamichi Sakuragi!
At that moment, Sakuragi Hanamichi rushed to Akagi Takenori's side with a big smile and said with a grin, "Brother Akagi, your dunk just now was absolutely amazing!"
Unexpectedly, Takenori Akagi, with a dark expression, casually remarked, "Oh? Why don't you call me gorilla anymore?"
Suddenly, Sakuragi Hanamichi was filled with embarrassment and didn't know how to deal with it. He quickly forced an awkward smile and prepared to defend himself.
Suddenly, Akagi Takenori grabbed Sakuragi Hanamichi by the neck and pulled him into his arms. He pretended to be fierce and scolded, "Hmm? You little brat, you dare call me gorilla again? I think you're asking for a beating!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi, who was being controlled, quickly explained, "Ah! Gorilla... Oh, no! Brother Akagi, you've misunderstood... I did that to motivate you..."
Akagi Takenori was just joking with Sakuragi Hanamichi, so after a little playful banter, he planned to let go of her arm.
After all, Sakuragi Hanamichi was the one who woke him up!
But then Akagi Takenori suddenly sniffed hard with his nose and said in disbelief, "Hmm? It smells so familiar! I think I smelled this at my house when I left this morning. I think Haruko was stewing something."
Immediately, a nameless rage surged within Akagi Takenori, and he roared, "You brat! Tell me the truth, why do you smell like that?"
Sakuragi Hanamichi: "..."
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