Inside the Ryonan Basketball Gymnasium, during the timeout, the Shohoku Team players gathered around the bench, regulating their breaths and preparing for the upcoming battle.
Takenori Akagi wiped away a layer of sweat and said in a deep voice, "We can't let our guard down. Ryonan is definitely going to adjust their tactics."
"That guy Sendoh is starting to get serious," Kaede Rukawa said coldly, a fighting spirit flickering in his eyes.
Shin Saionji silently observed the Ryonan bench, thinking to himself, "Coach Taoka will definitely find a way to target our advantages. Once the timeout is over, the game might become even more difficult."
"Still, there's no need to worry too much; we're still in the lead."
Just as Coach Taoka of the Ryonan team was about to lay out his tactics, Hanamichi Sakuragi sneaked up and squatted down right behind Coach Taoka...
Koshino asked, "What on earth are you doing?"
Hanamichi Sakuragi put his hands on his hips and declared, "Hahaha! Your plans are already known to this genius!"
"Pfft..." Sendoh suddenly burst out laughing.
Hanamichi marched right up to Sendoh and announced, "I'm definitely going to beat you!"
*Bam!* With a resounding thud, Takenori Akagi landed a punch on Hanamichi's head, then apologized, "I'm sorry, Coach Taoka! This guy has no manners!"
Amidst Hanamichi's loud protests, Akagi dragged him back to the Shohoku bench.
—The timeout ended, and the game was about to resume!
The Shohoku players stood up one after another and headed onto the court, ready to face a tactically adjusted Ryonan!
Sendoh stood at the center line, a relaxed smile still playing on his lips, but the carefree playfulness in his eyes was gone. He was completely serious now.
"Saionji, are you ready?"
Shin Saionji smiled faintly, his gaze resolute. "Of course."
The ultimate showdown between the two aces was about to officially begin!
Shohoku 16, Ryonan 8. Shohoku held a temporary lead, but the true battle had only just begun.
Standing at midcourt with a relaxed smile curving at the corner of his mouth, Sendoh gently bounced the basketball as he looked across at Shin Saionji.
"Saionji..." Sendoh said softly, "You really are something else."
Shin Saionji remained completely calm, his gaze focused and his body leaning slightly forward, ready to respond to Sendoh's attack at any moment.
"I'm looking forward to a real duel, too."
—Ryonan's ball!
Sendoh slowly advanced the ball, with Kaede Rukawa standing directly in front of him, ready to defend.
Suddenly, Sendoh chuckled and crooked a finger at Shin Saionji. "Aren't you Shohoku's playmaker? Do you want to swap and guard me?"
Kaede Rukawa frowned slightly, stepping forward to intervene, but Shin Saionji proactively took a step forward, blocking Rukawa's path.
"I've got him."
Rukawa glanced at him, and though somewhat displeased, he ultimately nodded and retreated to the defensive line.
Seeing this, Sendoh smiled lightly. "Not bad. Full of confidence, aren't we?"
Sendoh began to dribble. His rhythm was exceptionally light, his footwork a mix of feints and real moves, ready to drive past his defender at any second.
Shin Saionji stood his ground firmly in front of him, unleashing the Demon King's Eye to analyze Sendoh's every move to the fullest!
"This guy... doesn't play by the rules."
Sendoh's style was completely different from ordinary point guards; he had no fixed offensive rhythm, dribbling casually and varying his attacks endlessly, making him as elusive and slippery as a fish in water.
Suddenly!
With a swift crossover, Sendoh exploded into a drive!
Shin Saionji immediately shifted laterally, precisely sealing off Sendoh's driving lane.
But—
Sendoh smiled faintly, flicked his right wrist, and the basketball suddenly flew from his fingertips!
"A pass?!"
The basketball landed precisely in the hands of Jun Uozumi, who seized the opportunity and went up strong for a slam dunk!
*“Bam—!”*
16:10! Ryonan clawed back two points!
On the sidelines, Coach Taoka nodded approvingly. "Good. Sendoh is finally starting to adjust his own style of play."
He looked toward Coach Anzai and said in a low voice, "Shohoku's student Saionji is indeed very strong, but Sendoh... is no ordinary player."
—Shohoku's ball!
Shin Saionji slowly dribbled the ball across half-court, with Sendoh standing right before him, eyes sharp.
"My turn to guard you."
Shin Saionji said nothing, keeping his calm as he observed the situation on the court.
Sendoh's defensive style was very unique; rather than staring intently at the ball like a typical defender, he relied on instinct and a sense of rhythm to disrupt the ball-handler.
The Demon King's Eye, analyze at full power!
Shin Saionji quickly made an adjustment, deliberately slowing his dribbling tempo before exploding into a sudden acceleration!
Sendoh reacted instantly, but Shin Saionji's first step was lightning-fast, and his drive instantly tore through the defense!
*“Tch...”* Sendoh muttered under his breath, “So fast!”
Just as Sendoh was about to be left behind, he suddenly reached out, attempting a steal!
But—
Shin Saionji executed a sudden stop, pulling the ball back in a flash!
Sendoh's fingers almost grazed the ball, but Shin Saionji had already adjusted his footing and smoothly drove past from the other side!
"What a gorgeous change of pace!" Ayako cheered excitedly.
Kaede Rukawa was positioned on the wing, ready to receive the ball, but Shin Saionji suddenly delivered a no-look behind-the-back pass, putting the ball straight into Akagi's hands!
*“Bam!!”*
Akagi leaped forcefully, dunking the ball home right over Uozumi!
18:10! Shohoku maintained their lead!
Coach Taoka's expression shifted slightly. He looked toward Coach Anzai and said gravely, "Saionji really knows how to control the tempo of the game... He's exceptionally calm."
—Ryonan's ball!
Sendoh hesitated no longer, a sharp edge flashing in his eyes.
"You won that last exchange," Sendoh said softly. "But this time, it won't be so easy."
Suddenly!
Sendoh launched forward, his speed doubling compared to before!
"So fast?!"
Shin Saionji immediately backpedaled, preparing to seal off his path.
But Sendoh's footwork was exceptionally nimble, and the angle of his drive was fiercely tricky. After two consecutive changes of direction, he had completely shaken off Shin Saionji!
"...I've been beaten!" Shin Saionji was slightly startled.
Sendoh charged into the paint and, facing Akagi's defense, did not hesitate for a second. He went straight up for a mid-air body dodge, eluding Akagi's block to easily lay the ball in!
18:12!
Coach Taoka smiled faintly. "That's Sendoh for you."
Shin Saionji stood in the backcourt without a trace of dejection on his face; he simply let out a light breath, his gaze remaining entirely composed.
—Shohoku's ball!
Shin Saionji advanced the ball once more. Sendoh's defense was even tighter this time, constantly using his body to disrupt Shin Saionji and attempting to restrict his driving lanes.
Yet Shin Saionji remained utterly calm. With a subtle shoulder fake, Sendoh reacted instantly, but Saionji merely feinted before pulling up for a sudden jump shot!
Sendoh leaped fiercely to contest the shot, but—
Shin Saionji's release had already left his fingertips ahead of time!
*“Swish—!”*
Nothing but net! 20:12!
"What a calm shooting decision..." Coach Taoka muttered under his breath.
—The game continued. The duel between Sendoh and Shin Saionji grew increasingly fierce. Could Shohoku maintain their advantage? Could Ryonan find a way to break the deadlock?