Further and further… and more accurate?!
Nango really wanted to curse.
Moroboshi's three-pointers were completely unreasonable.
But even so, Shohoku still held a 6-point lead, with only two and a half minutes left.
As long as they avoided mistakes, victory was within reach.
But Aiwa Academy had no intention of letting them maintain control—they launched a full-court press.
Akagi went to inbound, but Amamiya Hideyoshi blocked his left side, forcing him to pass to Miyagi on the right.
The moment Miyagi caught the ball—
Fukuoka and Moroboshi pounced, pressing him ferociously and driving him toward the sideline.
"Miyagi!"
Nango sprinted up to help.
With two defenders trapping him, Miyagi had only two choices:
wait for Nango to close in, or attempt a risky high lob.
He chose the safer option.
But in that brief moment of relief, Fukuoka suddenly slipped behind him—
poke!
The ball was stripped away, and Moroboshi bent low to snatch it.
Fukuoka cut hard into the paint, Moroboshi fed him the pass, and Fukuoka easily finished the layup.
The basket electrified Aiwa Academy.
With nearly two minutes left, a 4-point difference was anything but safe.
Their defensive pressure instantly rose again—another full-court press.
The stands fell silent.
Every spectator held their breath.
Haruko, who moments ago had been distracted by her own feelings, now clasped her hands tightly and prayed for Shohoku.
Once again, Akagi tried to inbound.
Once again, Amamiya shut down his left side.
Once again, the ball could only go to the right.
Fukuoka clung to Miyagi.
Moroboshi lurked behind them, ready to strike.
But Shohoku had more than one ball-handler.
Nango circled around and called out,
"Captain! Over here!"
Akagi immediately threw him the ball.
Before Nango even properly received it, Moroboshi rushed toward him, coordinating with Egawa to force a trap.
But Nango refused to let them form one.
The moment he caught the ball, he leaned into Egawa, turned tightly against him, and burst toward the frontcourt.
Now both Moroboshi and Fukuoka sprinted over—the second defensive line.
The frontcourt was nearly empty.
If Nango broke through, it was an easy score.
He absolutely couldn't stop here.
Before the trap closed in, Nango shifted laterally, creating space, then pushed forward at full speed—
breaking free from all three defenders.
Only Aoba Yoshi remained.
And Aoba… hesitated.
Nango had punished him repeatedly already.
If he committed a shooting foul here, Aiwa's chances would evaporate.
So Aoba decided to contest the angle, nothing more.
But his teammates didn't agree.
"Aoba! Stop him already!" Moroboshi shouted desperately.
"It's all on you, Aoba!" Amamiya cried.
"???"
Aoba's eyes widened.
You want me to stop THAT? Are you trying to get me killed?!
Still, he held the middle, bracing himself as Nango approached.
Nango slowed slightly, then gathered the ball on his right side—
shoulder dipping, right foot stomping.
Aoba reacted instantly, shifting left.
But then—
Nango's steps curved sharply to the right, bypassing him entirely, before laying it in with ease.
A perfect Euro Step.
Coach Kouzu leapt to his feet in excitement.
"Euro Step?! Did Coach Anzai teach him that?!"
Maki and Kiyota looked at each other, bewildered.
"Coach… what's a Euro Step?" Kiyota asked.
Coach Kouzu sighed deeply, then explained,
"A technique developed in Europe. When I toured there with the team years ago, many players used that exact footwork. It requires incredible coordination. I never imagined Coach Anzai would teach something so modern… These old-school coaches really do hide surprises."
Maki and Kiyota suddenly felt overwhelming respect for Anzai.
Aoba, meanwhile, was simply stunned.
He had no idea what he had just witnessed.
Moroboshi saw clearly, but he had no time to process it.
"Aoba! Inbound!"
"Oh!"
Aoba scrambled to pick up the ball.
Moroboshi dribbled up again, only to see Nango already waiting at half-court.
No choice—
Moroboshi had been shooting from farther and farther away, and Nango couldn't risk giving him any space, no matter how irrational the shot seemed.
Moroboshi sought a pick-and-roll and handed the ball to Fukuoka again.
But this time, Nango forcefully squeezed past Fukuoka, teaming with Miyagi to trap Moroboshi.
"Moroboshi!"
Fukuoka called for the pass, hands ready.
But Moroboshi couldn't pass—both passing lanes were sealed.
Miyagi pressed into him, wiry frame grinding relentlessly.
Nango's long arms shadowed the ball.
Forced, Moroboshi finally found Egawa in the corner.
Egawa pump-faked repeatedly, but Rukawa Kaede didn't bite.
The drive was open, but the jumper was shut down.
Egawa reluctantly passed to Fukuoka.
Fukuoka shot immediately—
but Nango exploded forward—
smack!
A huge block from the side.
The ball flew out of bounds.
Aiwa kept possession.
Barely.
Coach Sakaguchi instantly used his final timeout.
Time left: 1 minute 30 seconds.
Two more offensive chances at most.
Everything would be decided here.
On Shohoku's side, Coach Anzai pushed up his glasses and asked calmly,
"Nango, your thoughts?"
Everyone was used to it already—
let Nango read the situation.
Nango stepped forward confidently.
"I think it's clear. Moroboshi Dai is their key. In the final moments, every team relies on their ace. We must focus on him above everything else."
He raised a finger.
"No matter what tactics they run, our top priority is to shut down Moroboshi."
He continued, firm and steady:
"Our defensive focus: protect the three-point line.
If needed, give up the two."
He turned to Akagi and Sakuragi.
"But don't neglect the paint. Watch for backdoor cuts. And we absolutely must secure the defensive rebound."
Akagi nodded.
Sakuragi clenched a fist into his palm and declared,
"Leave the rebounds to me!"
Nango smiled, then looked at Coach Anzai.
"Coach, any problems with this arrangement?"
"Ho ho ho ho…"
Coach Anzai laughed gently, eyes full of approval.
"There's one more thing. They may intentionally foul to stop the clock. So stay calm on free throws. As long as you perform normally… we will win."
Everyone nodded.
Nango raised his hand.
"We will not fall here. Shohoku!"
All hands stacked together—
"Shohoku!"