Slam dunk, hit 100% of the three-pointers at the beginning!

Finally, Coach Taoka could no longer sit still and called for a timeout.

The spectators immediately focused on Ryonan's bench, eager to see what adjustments would be made.

At that moment, Sendo had already changed into his Ryonan uniform and was warming up.

"Look! Sendo is warming up!"

"Does this mean he's going to play?"

"Ryonan is finally going to start catching up now."

"I wonder—will Shōhoku's number 10 defend him? Or number 11?"

Uozumi and the other players returned to the bench, wiping sweat off their faces. Each of them wore a heavy expression.

With five minutes left in the first half, Ryonan had scored only 10 points. This was a first for them—a truly humiliating experience.

Uozumi had been determined to outperform Akagi, while Ikegami wanted to contain Ryu. Uozumi had at least managed to grab a few rebounds, but Ikegami? Not only had he failed to stop Ryu, but he had also allowed him to score repeatedly. His frustration was palpable.

"Coach Taoka, that number 10 from Shōhoku isn't as simple as he looks."

"Yeah, even Ikegami couldn't stop him."

Fukuda and Koshino nodded, their brows furrowed in disbelief.

They had initially thought that while Rukawa might pose a challenge, Ryu, who they dismissed as a rookie, would surely make mistakes. Ikegami, known for his steady play, was supposed to capitalize on those errors. But reality had dealt them a harsh blow.

"Enough of that!" Taoka snapped. "Get your heads in the game! Shōhoku was nothing more than a first-round exit team. Even with Rukawa and that rookie Ryu, they're still just Shōhoku.

"Remember—our goal is to dominate the nation! There's no way we're losing to a team with Akagi and a couple of first-years!"

His tone softened as he turned to Sendo.

"Sendo, get ready. Before the first half ends, we're going to close this gap."

For Taoka, there was no doubt—once Sendo took the court, not even Ryu could stop him. Sendo was Ryonan's ace, their secret weapon.

Sendo smiled confidently and replied: "Leave it to me. I'll handle Ryu. Ikegami, you focus on Rukawa."

Without hesitation, he declared his matchup, and no one was surprised. Based on Ryu's performance, it was clear he was Shōhoku's cornerstone.

Hikoichi, already bursting with excitement, exclaimed: "Sendo vs. Ryu! I can't wait to see it! I've got to record every detail!"

The rest of Ryonan's team, however, rolled their eyes. "Whose side are you even on, Hikoichi?" they muttered in unison.

Meanwhile, at Shōhoku's bench, Akagi and the others were seated, their spirits high.

Years of being underestimated were finally being avenged.

"Good work, Ryu, and Rukawa..." Coach Anzai said with a pleased smile.

"But listen—there are five minutes left in the first half. Ryu, you'll likely be facing Sendo next. Stay sharp."

The atmosphere shifted immediately. Everyone except Ryu felt the weight of those words.

Akagi, deep in thought, knew what this meant. "The pressure is about to get even worse," he muttered.

Kogure exhaled deeply, trying to shake off the tension.

The first-year players, including Kakuta, gulped nervously. "Sendo... Is Ryonan's ace really coming in?"

All eyes turned to Ryu, who remained calm and composed. His lack of nervousness earned him quiet admiration from his teammates.

Even Rukawa, usually indifferent to others, couldn't help but speak up: "Coach Anzai, I want to face Sendo first."

Though his tone was even, the determination in his voice was unmistakable.

Akagi and the others were not surprised—this was typical of Rukawa.

Considering Rukawa's height and weight compared to Ryu's, he seemed better suited to go against Sendo.

Ryu, however, simply smiled, taking the towel from Ayako and suggesting:

"Rukawa, you can have him.

"Coach Anzai, there are five minutes left. Why not let Sakuragi take my spot? He's going to be one of our main players in the future. It's better to give him some real game experience now."

Ryu's reasoning was straightforward: basketball is a team sport, not a solo endeavor. His goal wasn't just to shine individually—it was to lead Shōhoku to national dominance.

Since this was only a practice game, it was the perfect chance for Sakuragi to step in and learn. Meanwhile, Ryu could rest and prepare for the second half, when he'd inevitably face Sendo.

Rukawa was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Ryu to willingly pass up the opportunity to challenge Sendo.

Akagi and the others, however, were stunned. "Sakuragi... on the court? Ryu, are you serious?"

Coach Anzai, on the other hand, beamed at Ryu.

"As expected, there's always something special about this kid," he thought, nodding approvingly at the suggestion.

Ultimately, Coach Anzai agreed to Ryu's plan. Ryu would take a brief rest, and Sakuragi would substitute in.

But as the timeout ended and the players prepared to return to the court, one question lingered:

"Wait... Where is Sakuragi?"