Slam Dunk: Muguro

Chapter 406 Kanagawa Derby?
"Coincidence, this must be a coincidence..."

Bodo's power forward thought to himself that he didn't believe Mike Okita could overcome his poor shooting in a short time.

However, Bodo's striker's doubts were quickly shattered by reality.

bang~
Bodo's attack ended in failure, and Buri's defense was better than they expected.

Soon, Ebina passed the ball to Mike Okita again.

Just like the previous round, Mike Okita once again took a mid-range jump shot against an opponent who was two steps away.

shuh~
The basketball, like a precision-guided missile, pierced the net with deadly accuracy.

It was only then that Bodo's striker finally realized what was happening.

He realized how wrong he had been to underestimate Mike Okita.

With Mike Okita hitting two consecutive mid-range shots, Hakata Commercial University's defensive strategy was undoubtedly disrupted.

Bodo's power forwards no longer dared to let Mike Okita shoot, and opted for a defensive strategy that protected against both drives and shots.

However, when he changed his defensive tactics, Mike Okita began to focus on driving to the basket again.

As a high school player who has garnered attention from the NBA, Mike Okita's athleticism is undoubtedly exceptional.

His explosive power is extremely strong; with just one step, he easily tore through the defense of Bodo's power forward.

At this moment, there was no one under the basket; Bodo's center had already been taken away by Meiko.

Mike Okita leaped up and unleashed a 'meteor dunk'.

Bang~
Thanks to his extraordinary jumping ability, Mike Okita's dunks are visually stunning.

Hua Hua Hua~
At that moment, cheers from the audience rose and fell, as if the entire stadium was boiling over for Mike Okita's dunk.

Buri's reputation soared in an instant.

They are not weak at all; on the contrary, they are very strong!
The reason they only got fourth place in Kanagawa is naturally because the competition in Kanagawa was too fierce, making them question their existence.

The Hakata players were inevitably flustered as they tried to catch up, but their eagerness led to a turnover by Tomokazu Godai.

Mike Okita possesses excellent fast break awareness, and the moment Tomokazu Godai steals the ball, he immediately rushes to the frontcourt.

Bodo's striker made a quick pursuit, but to his despair, the distance between them not only didn't shorten, but actually widened.

The two athletes are on completely different levels.

Bang~
Mike Okita received a long pass from his teammate and slammed home a dunk!

The stands erupted in even louder applause and cheers, and Buri players rushed forward to congratulate them.

Led by Mike Okita, Buri took an early 8-point lead over Hakata Commercial University.

Given that their opponent is Hakata Commercial University, one of the two powerhouses, this is a dream start.

Beep~
The game was paused as the referee blew his whistle.

With the score difference about to reach double digits, the coach of Hakata Commercial University could no longer hold back and took the initiative to call a timeout.

After both teams' players left the field, the coach of Hakata Commercial University quickly sketched out tactics on the whiteboard.

In just a few breaths, the defensive strategy was rearranged.

He also encouraged the players not to be discouraged.

As one of the two major powerhouses, and with team basketball as its core principle, Hakata Commercial University players possess excellent mental attributes and have enough confidence to face various crises.

After the timeout, the Hakata Commercial University players returned to the court with determination.

Hakata Commercial University had possession of the ball. The Hakata point guard steadily dribbled the ball across half-court and began to organize the team's offense.

Compared to two years ago, Hakata University of Commerce's strength has undoubtedly been weakened.

Two years ago, they also had two core players, Nobisuke Suzuki and Kenjiro Itakura.

The current starting five for Hakata Commercial University are quite well-balanced; each player has strengths, but none is particularly outstanding.

Thanks to their emphasis on team basketball, which keeps the five players, who possess at least the core strength of a top team, closely united, Hakata Commercial University maintains its strong competitiveness and remains a favorite to win the championship.

shuh~
With excellent teamwork, Hakata Commercial University finally scored a goal, breaking their scoring drought.

The players high-fived each other, celebrating the hard-won score.

However, Hakata Commercial University still couldn't contain Buri's performance.

Buri's rapid offensive put immense pressure on the Bodo University of Commerce's defenders.

Among them, Mike Okita and Mitsuaki Nagato had the most outstanding performances in offense and defense.

During the timeout, Coach Kazumi Kawasaki anticipated the opponent's moves and made arrangements in advance.

As expected, Hakata Commercial University intensified their defense against Mike Okita.

With Mike Okita's ability, he wouldn't be unable to score, but his scoring efficiency cannot be guaranteed.

shuh~
Soon, Mike Okita broke through Hakata's power forward's defense again.

His explosive power was so great that defenders could hardly keep up with him.

At this moment, Bodo's small forward resolutely stepped in to cover.

After drawing the defense's attention, Mike Okita did not rush to score, but instead chose to pass the ball.

His organizational skills are average, but he has a solid foundation.

The basketball landed perfectly in the hands of Tomokazu Godai, who was in an open position.

Upon receiving the ball, Tomokazu Godai did not hesitate, leaped up, and flicked his wrist slightly.

shuh~
The three-pointer went in, and the stands erupted in thunderous applause and cheers once again.

Buriram United's home advantage couldn't be more obvious!

No, it should be the home advantage of Kanagawa teams.

Since most of the people at the event were from Kanagawa, don't forget the support from other Kanagawa teams as well.

Don't underestimate this point. It is precisely because of the support of Shohoku, Shoyo, and Ryonan that the fans of the four teams can unite and fight together against external forces.

This is also the main reason why Hakata Commercial University fans seem isolated and outnumbered.

With the support of the fans, Buri FC received a buff, while Bodo Commercial University received a debuff.

With one team gaining an advantage and the other losing an advantage, it's understandable that Buri team isn't at a disadvantage.

In this situation, the score difference between the two sides remained at 5-9 points, and Bodo Commercial University was unable to overtake the score for a long time.

As the saying goes, once, twice, then declines; a third time, then exhaustion.

With the home advantage, the players of Hakata Commercial University became increasingly anxious.

Although they primarily play team basketball, they are ultimately high school students full of energy, not emotionless machines.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Buri extended the lead to double digits and maintained it until the end of the first half.

After the first half ended, Buri players left the field arm in arm.

In contrast, the players from Hakata Commercial University looked troubled, sensing that something was amiss.

They knew that the upcoming matches would be even more difficult.

However, as key players for Hakata Commercial University, one of the two powerhouse teams, they also have their own pride.

They won't give up until the outcome is decided, especially since Buri only has an 11-point lead.

During halftime, Coach Kazumi Kawasaki scanned the faces of each Buri player.

"In the second half, we must remain patient, play steadily and gradually, and not give our opponents any openings. Now, let's unite as one and win this victory!"

Coach Kazumi Kawasaki's voice was full of passion, trying to convey that emotion to the players.

This is a valuable experience he gained from his early training under Coach Anzai.

"Yes, Coach!"

Sure enough, the Buri players responded in unison.

Coach Kazumi Kawasaki then emphasized the importance of teamwork, ensuring that every player understood their responsibilities.

In the remaining time, Coach Kazumi Kawasaki analyzed in detail some of the shortcomings in the first half and offered suggestions for improvement. "Our opponents are strong, but we are equally strong!"

At Coach Kazumi Kawasaki's signal, the Buri players all extended their right hands and placed them together.

“We are strong!”

The Buri players' roars ignited their emotions.

They are prepared to go all out in the second half and fight for the final victory with their sweat.

This Buri team is indeed very strong, at least no less so than the Buri team that surprisingly won the championship two years ago.

"Buri, fighting!"

As the second half began, fans from the four major high schools in Kanagawa started cheering for Takezato.

The sound was so loud it penetrated right into the eardrums.

Amidst such a massive commotion, the already small number of Hakata Commercial University fans were completely drowned out.

This gave the Hakata Commercial University players the illusion that they were surrounded by enemies, and they were affected to some extent.

During the jump ball phase, Ming Gaoguang once again won the jump ball for Buri team.

Ebina carefully controlled the ball past midfield and began to organize the team's attack.

Suddenly, Mike Okita and Mitsuaki Nagata moved at the same time.

Double cover!
With the screen from the two players, Kuriichiro successfully shook off his opponent and appeared beyond the three-point line.

"not good!"

The Bodo players were all taken aback. They had seen Buri's predictions and knew very well how accurate Kamiichiro's three-pointers were.

Ebina immediately passed the ball to Katsumi Ichiro, who, without adjusting, launched a three-pointer.

His shooting form is similar to Mitsui's, which may indicate that he received guidance from Mitsui in junior high school, or that he deliberately imitated Mitsui.

shuh~
The basketball swished through the net, sending up a splash!
This goal extended Buri's lead to 14 points!
For two teams of similar strength, this is undoubtedly a dangerous score difference.

The game continued, and the Hakata Commercial University players were surprised to find that Buri's offensive focus had shifted from Mike Okita and Mitsuaki Nagato to Katsumi Ichiro and Godai Tomokazu.

Occasionally, Ebina would also launch a sneak attack.

During halftime, Hakata Commercial University developed a specific defensive strategy against Buri's two big men.

Now look what happened, it's all been a waste of time.

For a moment, Buri team unleashed a barrage of three-pointers.

With the score difference rapidly approaching 20 points, the coach of Hakata Commercial University was anxious and had no choice but to call another timeout.

After the timeout, Hakata Commercial University tightened their defense on Buri's outside shooting.

But this didn't come without a price: Buri's two big men were freed from their constraints once again.

This is like robbing Peter to pay Paul!

The coach of Hakata Commercial University was also helpless. He knew the harm of doing so, but he had no choice but to do it.

"If Suzuki were still here!"

The coach of Hakata Commercial University thought of Nohisuke Suzuki. If Suzuki hadn't left, Buri's two big men would likely have been limited.

Unfortunately, there is no if!
As time slowly passed, the Hakata Commercial University players became increasingly anxious, which unconsciously led them to intensify their defensive actions.

When Tomokazu Godai shook off his opponent and received the ball, he was preparing to make a layup.

Suddenly, the back of his jersey was grabbed.

tearing~
With the sound of a jersey tearing, Tomokazu Godai stumbled and fell face down to the ground.

Beep~
The referee immediately blew his whistle, indicating that Bodo's small forward had committed a malicious foul, and Buri was awarded two free throws and possession.

At the same time, the referee also gave Bodo's small forward a stern warning, saying that if it happened again, he would be sent off.

Tomokazu Godai was not injured and quickly got up from the ground.

"Thanks for those two free throws. If I'm not mistaken, you've already committed four fouls."

Tomokazu Godai still had the mood to joke around, showing a remarkably good attitude.

He ignored the grim-faced Bodo small forward and walked straight off the field.

After quickly changing into his jersey, Tomokazu Godai went to the free-throw line.

Since he began to see Kogure as someone to catch up with, Tomokazu Godai has become much stronger than he was in the original work, both in terms of skill and mentality.

Swish~ Swish~
At the free-throw line, Yuka Godai made both free throws, extending the lead to 16 points.

However, possession of the ball remained in Buri's hands.

Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps because of his fourth foul, Hakata's small forward lacked focus, allowing Tomokazu Godai to create an opportunity.

Hakata's small forward sensed something was wrong and tried to salvage the situation by rushing towards Tomokazu Godai at top speed.

As soon as Tomokazu Godai shot the basketball, he was knocked to the ground by the unstoppable momentum of the Hakata small forward.

Beep~
The referee blew the whistle again!

shuh~
The basketball traced a beautiful parabola and pierced the rim once again.

In addition, Tomokazu Godai was awarded an extra free throw opportunity.

Bodo's small forward fouled out, leaving only a dejected figure.

He paid the price for his impulsiveness!

shuh~
Yuka Godai calmly sank the free throw.

At this point, there were ten minutes left in the game.

Thanks to the undercover performance of Bodo's small forward, Buri's lead has reached 20 points.

To prevent serious incidents from occurring, the referees have increased the severity of their penalties.

The referee will blow the whistle immediately if either player makes a large movement.

In just three minutes, four players from both sides were fouled.

The Hakata Commercial University players had to tone down their actions until they figured out the referee's standards.

The coach of Hakata Commercial University had a grim face, but he had no choice but to bring on a substitute small forward.

At this time, Hakata University of Commerce was already in dire straits and could collapse at any moment.

The coach of Hakata Commercial University became increasingly uneasy, and the game from two years ago flashed through his mind.

In that national competition, Hakata Commercial University made it to the finals, and was just one step away from winning the trophy.

Unfortunately, it ultimately benefited Buri.

"We must win!"

Once is not enough; the coach of Hakata Commercial University does not want to be defeated by Buri again.

However, the course of the game was not dictated by his will.

On the field, the Hakata Commercial University players are still trying to catch up.

After figuring out the referee's standards, the performance of the Hakata Commercial University players became much more stable.

Thanks to their efforts, they managed to narrow the gap by a few points, but that was the end of it.

At crucial moments, Ming Gaoguang scored repeatedly with strong drives to the basket.

The other Buri players also performed well, maintaining a consistent performance until the end of the match.

With the final whistle of the game, the match finally came to an end.

Buri defeated Hakata again, successfully advancing to the national semi-finals.

This is the second Kanagawa team to advance!
"If Ryonan defeats Sannoh, wouldn't that become the Kanagawa derby?"

At this moment, Kogure and Fujima looked at each other, and a possibility came to mind.

(End of this chapter)