Slam Dunk: My physical abilities can be increased indefinitely.

Chapter 26 Rukawa's Awakening, Sendoh's Fatal Blow

Three days after the Hainan game, a whiteboard appeared in Ryonan's training hall with the words "Four days until the Shohoku game".

Every morning, Taoka would change the numbers, from four to three, and then from three to two.

Sendoh's knee was swollen for three days. On the first day, he couldn't even bend it and walked with a limp. When Koshino saw him like that, he almost carried him from the dormitory to the infirmary.

The swelling subsided a bit the next day, and Sendoh started working out his upper body at the gym. If he couldn't run, he did barbell exercises; if he couldn't jump, he trained his wrists.

Taoka stood at the gym entrance watching him for ten minutes, but didn't go in or say anything before turning around and leaving.

On the morning of the third day, when Sendoh walked into the gymnasium, Koshino was warming up. When he saw Sendoh, he was stunned and dropped the ball in his hand.

"Is your knee better?"

"It can run."

"Being able to run and being healed are two different things. Last time you said you could still play in overtime, but after the game, your knee was swollen like a bun."

Sendoh didn't reply. He picked up the ball that had fallen to the ground and threw it to Koshino, then stood outside the three-point line and started shooting.

The afternoon training session was a tactical drill. Taoka called everyone to the whiteboard, which was filled with the starting lineup of Shohoku. Akagi was under the basket, Sakuragi was on the weak side, Rukawa was on the strong side at 45 degrees, Mitsui was in the corner, and Miyagi was at the top of the arc.

"Shohoku is different from Hainan. Hainan's core is Maki Shinichi's ball-handling offense, while Shohoku's core is Rukawa Kaede's off-ball movement and Akagi's low-post isolation plays." Taoka pointed to Rukawa Kaede's name on the whiteboard with his pen. "In the last practice match against Shohoku, Sendoh and Rukawa Kaede were matched up and tied. But practice matches are not official matches. Someone like Rukawa Kaede will be even stronger in official matches."

Sendoh looked at Rukawa's name on the whiteboard, and the scene of that practice match flashed through his mind. Rukawa's expression after he had beaten him in one step was not one of frustration, but of excitement, that look of "the stronger you are, the more excited I am".

Match day.

Rukawa was stretching next to the center circle. When he bent over, his fingers could touch his ankles. His ligaments were incredibly strong. He saw Sendoh walk out of the player tunnel, paused for a moment, and then continued stretching.

jump ball.

Uozumi touched the ball and passed it to Uekusa, who then passed it to Sendoh. Sendoh dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, where Rukawa defended. Rukawa positioned himself further forward than during practice, with a lower center of gravity, his palms outstretched, and his fingertips dangling along Sendoh's dribbling path.

Sendoh dribbled the ball with his right hand and took a step to the right. Rukawa followed with a slide step. Sendoh stopped abruptly and switched hands to the left. Rukawa followed again. His steps were faster than last time, much faster.

During the last practice match, Sendoh was able to shake off half a body length with this move, but this time he didn't even have half a body length left. Sendoh didn't try to force his way through and instead called for a screen from Uozumi.

Uozumi stepped up to block Rukawa on the right, and Sendoh broke through to the left. Akagi switched out to defend, and Sendoh used his speed to overpower Akagi, cutting in from the left and jumping. Rukawa chased after him from behind to block, but that guy's speed in helping out was unreasonable. He was just blocked by the screen, but in the blink of an eye, he bypassed the screen and chased to the basket.

Sendoh switched the ball to his left hand in mid-air, dodging Rukawa's palm, and scored with a layup.

After landing, Rukawa glanced at Sendoh, and his gaze was different from last time.

Shohoku is on offense. Miyagi dribbles the ball across half-court and passes it to Rukawa. Rukawa doesn't call for a screen against Sendoh, but instead turns his back to the basket and dribbles two steps before driving in. Sendoh's strength (B) isn't at a disadvantage against Rukawa's, and the two are locked in a stalemate near the free-throw line. Suddenly, Rukawa turns and shoots a fadeaway jumper. His release point is very high, and Sendoh's attempt to block it is slightly off. The ball goes in.

After landing, Rukawa looked at Sendoh and said, "One ball."

Sendoh didn't say anything and ran towards the front.

The two played for eight minutes in the first quarter, and neither gained an advantage. Sendoh scored six points and Rukawa scored six points, with both having a shooting percentage of around 50%. Neither of them could completely shut down the other.

When Taoka substituted Sendoh to rest, Sendoh's breathing was much heavier than usual. Physical strength wasn't the problem; the main issue was mental exhaustion. He had to be fully focused every time he faced Rukawa, not letting that guy find his rhythm.

In the second quarter, Sendoh sat on the bench watching Rukawa lead Shohoku's reserve lineup alone.

When Akagi wasn't on the court, Rukawa was Shohoku's only offensive core. He scored on all three of his consecutive attacks: a layup, a mid-range jump shot, and an assist to Sakuragi for a basket.

Ryonan's bench players were outscored 8-2, widening the gap to six points. Taoka called a timeout and devised a new defensive strategy, double-teaming Rukawa. However, Rukawa passed the ball before the double-team was formed, and the ball's movement was faster than Ryonan's rotation. Mitsui received the ball in the corner and hit a three-pointer, extending the lead to nine points.

Taoka didn't wait any longer and immediately substituted Sendoh into the game.

At halftime, the score was 41-36, with Ryonan trailing by five points. In the locker room, Sendoh covered his face with a towel. The system panel popped up: Speed ​​A, Jumping B+, Reaction B+, Flexibility B+, Strength B, Endurance A. His PP balance of 9 points was not enough to add any of them. He had used up all his points in the Hainan game, and he hadn't accumulated many in the past few days of training.

At the start of the second half, Sendoh scored five points in a row. First, he drew a foul on a drive and made both free throws. Then, he scored a layup on a fast break. Finally, he received a pass from Uekusa at the top of the arc and hit a three-pointer. Rukawa immediately responded with one of his own, driving to the basket and then stopping for a jump shot. The ball bounced but still went in.

With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Ryonan was down by two points. Sendoh controlled the ball at the top of the arc to run down the clock. Rukawa's defense was tighter than in the first three quarters. He stretched out in front of Sendoh, his eyes fixed on Sendoh's chest. That position wouldn't be fooled by a feint because the center of gravity wouldn't move. Sendoh swung his hand to the right, but Rukawa didn't move.

"You've improved," Sendoh said.

"You too," Rukawa said.

Sendoh didn't say anything more and called for a screen from Uozumi. The moment Uozumi moved up, Sendoh broke through to the left before the screen was fully in place. Rukawa was slowed down by Uozumi's screen and Sendoh cut into the paint to face Akagi.

Akagi spread his arms, Sendoh jumped, and Akagi followed. Sendoh switched the ball from his right to his left in mid-air, preparing for a layup, when Rukawa flew in from behind and slapped the ball hard. The ball was blocked out of bounds, and the referee signaled possession to Ryonan.

After landing, Sendoh looked at Rukawa. This guy's jumping ability was even higher than the last time it was tested. The height of that defensive play had exceeded his normal level. The adrenaline in the game had pulled his jumping ability to the level of A- or even A.

Sendoh took a deep breath and served from the sideline. With eight seconds left on the clock, he faced Rukawa and made three consecutive crossovers: right hand to left hand, left hand to right hand, and right hand to left hand again. Rukawa's footwork began to falter, and his center of gravity shifted slightly to the left.

Sendoh broke in from the right, and Akagi came out to help defend, but it was too late. Sendoh jumped, and Akagi had no choice but to foul. The whistle blew, and Sendoh stepped to the free throw line. He made both free throws, and Ryonan took a one-point lead.

With twelve seconds left, Shohoku called a timeout. Coach Anzai set up the final attack, and everyone's eyes were on Rukawa.

The timeout ended, Miyagi inbounded the ball from the sideline, and Rukawa received it after making a screen without the ball.

When Sendoh caught up, Rukawa had already jumped. It wasn't a three-pointer, but a long two-pointer. His foot was on the three-point line. Sendoh jumped up to block, and his fingertips touched the bottom edge of the ball. The ball was touched, and its flight trajectory changed. It hit the back edge of the rim, bounced up, and then fell down.

It spun around the rim once and then slid out.

Uozumi grabbed the rebound and hugged it.

The whistle blows.

Ryonan won.

Rukawa stood outside the three-point line, looking at the basket with a blank expression, but his fists were clenched tightly. Sendoh walked over, Rukawa turned around, and the two looked at each other.

"You bumped into it just now," Rukawa said.

"I ran into him."

"I won't let you run into me again."

"We'll talk about it next time."

Rukawa turned and walked back to Shohoku's bench. Sendoh stood there watching his back. Koshino rushed over and hugged him, shouting, "You made it to the national team!" Sendoh was a little out of breath from the hug. He patted Koshino's back and looked past Koshino's shoulder onto the scoreboard on the sidelines: 47 to 46.

The system panel popped up: the county tournament ticket was won against Shohoku, PP increased by 30, remaining PP is 39.