The third quarter began with a deliberate pace from Flowstate. Riki walked the ball up, ignoring Miyagi's pressure. He called the play, his voice cutting through the crowd's noise.
The ball went inside to Teo. Akagi was strong, but Teo was taller, with a softer touch. He went to work, using a series of fakes and footwork before dropping in a hook shot. 42-38.
On defense, they stopped over-pursuing. They stayed home, forcing Shohoku to take contested jumpers instead of easy layups. Rukawa hit a tough one, but the percentage was on Flowstate's side.
The rhythm began to shift. Riki found Renz on a backdoor cut for a layup. 44-42.
Then, Bornok, reading a driving Miyagi, stepped in and drew a brutal offensive foul. The impact was loud, but Bornok just got up, grinning. "That's my paint," he grunted.
The momentum was turning. Flowstate's patience was chipping away at Shohoku's explosive energy. The game was becoming a grind, and in a grind, Flowstate's discipline was starting to shine. The score was tied, and the final quarter loomed, promising a war of attrition.