The training match started immediately with the sound of a whistle.
Ota won the right to the first possession for the Blue Team.
As one of the Four Great Centers of Tochigi Prefecture, Ota's biggest advantage is his physique.
He is tall and strong enough. Facing most centers, his teammates often just need to lob the ball into the paint, and he can send the ball into the basket relying on his body size.
It's completely normal that the Red Team's substitute center couldn't win the jump ball.
"Coach, is it really okay to let Yuuto play directly?"
On the sidelines.
The team vice-captain, who is also a third-year substitute, voiced his concern.
In terms of ability, Yuuto is definitely the team's best small forward (number 3 position).
He can score, and at the same time, assist Ota in grabbing rebounds and playing good defense.
As a second-year middle school student, Yuuto's height of 1.8 meters is already a top-tier model, and he is in a rapid development stage. It is not impossible for him to grow to 1.9 meters or even 2 meters in the future.
Coupled with decent athletic ability, every time he finds a mismatch, there is a high probability he can convert it into points.
But again, he hasn't played for too long. No one knows how much he has declined now.
Yuuto is undoubtedly a person with extremely strong self-esteem. Otherwise, why would he choose to leave the team after losing back then?
This is the impression everyone in the basketball club has of him.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Actually, the geezer coach wasn't sure either, but that didn't stop him from pretending to be profound.
"Being away from the court for a long time might reduce his athletic ability, and his body can't reach the optimal game state, but don't forget, Yuuto's strongest point is his brain."
Yes.
Yuuto's athletic ability is not particularly outstanding.
Otherwise, with his 1.8-meter frame, if his athletic ability were super strong, he would have become the Chosen One long ago.
Yuuto's strength.
It is reflected in his basketball IQ and game experience completely inconsistent with his age.
He doesn't run fast, but...
"Oh, holy crap?!"
Before the geezer could finish his sentence, he saw a yellow bolt of lightning flash past his eyes.
He widened his eyes and hurriedly looked over.
He discovered that it was actually Yuuto running with the ball. None of the teammates or opponents behind him could catch up; they were left far behind.
Swish!
The ball went in.
Yuuto scored 2 points with a bank shot so standard it felt ordinary.
But what everyone noticed wasn't his unremarkable layup, but his counterattack speed just now.
That startup speed and full-speed sprint were like two different people compared to the Yuuto in their memories.
If one had to find a metaphor, it would be like that tofu delivery AE86 suddenly switching to a professional racing engine!
"What happened? What on earth happened to Yuuto after he left the National Tournament last year?" Both of them were dumbfounded.
Not just them, everyone else on the court also looked as if they had seen a ghost.
While the coach was talking to the vice-captain.
The Blue Team point guard attempted to lob the ball into the paint for Ota to settle the battle.
Of course.
The Red Team knew this perfectly well; after all, Homi Academy's main tactic was this.
In order to safely deliver the ball under the basket, the Blue Team point guard didn't pass directly but passed the ball to a teammate in a better position before transferring possession.
The result.
Just as the ball was passed, Yuuto started like lightning. With a simple extension of his right hand, he intercepted their pass and launched a counterattack.
Their reaction wasn't slow; they turned around to chase immediately.
But they found themselves getting farther and farther away from Yuuto until they watched him lay up and score.
Really too fast!
If you run fast, you aren't necessarily a genius. If you have an outstanding physique, you aren't necessarily a genius either.
But if you run fast and also possess a top-tier physique, then it's hard not to be a genius.
The most typical example is Shaq.
While his body was as strong as a mountain, he possessed agility completely inconsistent with his size. This was a bit too bullying.
This is a typical case of God chasing you to feed you rice (blessing you with talent).
Static talents like height and wingspan have always been Yuuto's advantages. His weakness was that his athletic ability wasn't strong enough.
At least compared to those geniuses at the National Tournament, he wasn't strong enough.
So when he pulled off such a counterattack, things started to get interesting.
After exchanging glances with his vice-captain on the sidelines, the geezer chose to hold back and continue observing.
Maybe they were just too engrossed in chatting just now, making Yuuto appear very fast?
Transition between offense and defense.
The Blue Team was more steady this time. Avoiding Yuuto, they sent the ball into the paint to Ota.
The Red Team's substitute center was no match at all. Ota stuck out his butt to create space, jumped, and scored with a hook shot.
2:2!
It was the Red Team's turn to attack. Yuuto naturally asked for the ball.
Forced by their impression of Yuuto, the Blue Team arranged a double-team defense.
This is a good way to deal with Yuuto.
One-on-one, it's easy for him to use his tonnage to plow open a bloody path.
But if a double team is applied, the situation becomes different.
With his not-so-outstanding athletic ability, he can't shake off two defenders in one breath.
Yuuto forced a drive with the ball.
The Blue Team's double team arrived in place.
Others were constantly alert for Yuuto's possible pass.
However.
Bang bang bang~
The basketball hit the floor quickly.
Dip the shoulder, change direction...
A basic move so simple even a beginner knows it, yet it passed one defender by one body length in one breath.
By the time the opponent reacted, shouted "Oh no," and shifted his center of gravity.
Yuuto pulled the ball back and changed direction, returning to the original position.
And at this moment.
The double team had exposed a gap in the middle.
Without any superfluous movement, Yuuto exploded forward and cut through the middle of the two.
When Ota was lured out, he bounce-passed to an open teammate.
An absolutely perfect opportunity.
When the Red Team center received the ball, there was no one around. With just a light jump, he sent the ball into the net.
Swish!
"Something is really wrong!"
The geezer and the vice-captain saw shock in each other's eyes.
Yuuto, who disappeared after last year's National Tournament, not only didn't regress in strength but seemed to have awakened.
That ability to brute-force a 1v2 solution was definitely not possessed by the former him.
That first step of acceleration was so fast that even watching from the sidelines made him tremble.
In basketball, to judge whether a player is good at crossing people, the first step of acceleration is very important.
If the speed is fast enough, leading the opponent by half a body length the moment of acceleration, then as the offensive side, you have too many choices.
Yuuto's acceleration was definitely fast enough. After all, they sent a double team to trap him.
In a basketball game, a team only has 5 players on the court. Sending two players to defend one means one person is destined to be left open. Using three people to double team is almost equal to giving away points.
As a result, Yuuto easily completed a 1v2.
The movements were clearly very simple, the kind that everyone present could do.
But why is it so sharp when manifested in Yuuto?