“Now, please enjoy the second match of the second round. I believe this match will also be incredibly exciting.”
The commentator’s voice echoed through the arena via the speakers, and the stands immediately erupted in cheers.
This match was a true highlight—a head-on collision between two S-tier players: Kanagawa Prefecture’s “Emperor” Maki Shinichi, against Mike Okita, the mixed-race genius from the American high school top 100.
Gu Jin, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes, observing the game with keen interest.
One was a tank-like all-around guard, the other a talented small forward with agile footwork and precise shooting. This 1v1 contest was full of suspense from the very beginning.
Gu Jin was truly curious about who was stronger between these two; in the original plot, they never had the chance to meet.
However, due to the chain reactions caused by his arrival, this impossible matchup became a reality.
In Gu Jin's opinion, if it were team play, the Hainan Team and Maki Shinichi's strength would indeed be superior.
But in a one-on-one contest, the more offensively skilled Mike Okita might have the upper hand.
First, consider the height difference: Maki Shinichi is 184 cm tall, while Mike Okita was 192 cm in the previous life's theatrical version, and in reality, his height has reached 195 cm.
More crucially, this tall player is also a highly mobile small forward—possessing both strength sufficient for confrontation and quick footwork. Such physical conditions are a tremendous advantage in one-on-one offense and defense.
The referee's whistle blew, and the game began.
Maki Shinichi won the coin toss and took possession first.
He lowered his center of gravity, dribbled with a steady rhythm, and facing Mike Okita's defense, suddenly accelerated and changed direction, charging right like a tank.
Mike Okita reacted extremely quickly, sliding sideways to block his position, and managed to stop the first wave of penetration.
“He’s got something.” Maki Shinichi’s lips curved into a smile. He dribbled to a sudden stop and faked a shot, tricking Mike Okita into slightly raising his center of gravity. In that instant, he sharply dipped his shoulder, accelerated and broke through from the left, easily getting past the defense in one step and scoring with a layup.
1:0! Maki Shinichi drew first blood.
Mike Okita picked up the ball, dribbled a few times, and his eyes showed a hint more seriousness.
It was his turn to attack. He used a series of crossover dribbles combined with foot fakes, trying to disrupt Maki Shinichi’s defensive rhythm.
Maki Shinichi stood firm, his eyes fixed on his opponent, giving no easy shooting opportunities.
Suddenly, Mike Okita used a cross-step change of direction followed by a step-back, instantly creating half a meter of space, and pulled up for a jump shot from beyond the three-point line.
Maki Shinichi’s defensive lunge was too late; the basketball arced through the air and swished cleanly through the net.
1:1! Mike Okita responded with a long-range shot.
However, Gu Jin saw clearly that neither of them was using their full strength yet; they were both probing each other.
From the third shot onwards, it became a contest of patience, willpower, and physicality.
Maki Shinichi’s three consecutive fakes and changes of direction were all neutralized by Okita’s long arms. Finally, he simply lowered his shoulder and crashed into him. Their bodies collided with a dull thud, and Okita was actually pushed back half a step.
This scene made Gu Jin nod secretly from the sidelines, gaining a deeper understanding of Maki Shinichi’s physical prowess—such a “monstrous” physique, even if Sakuragi Hanamichi, known for his explosive power, were to come, he would probably be slightly inferior.
The core strength and overall coordination Maki Shinichi displayed during that confrontation were completely unlike the level a 184 cm guard could achieve.
That body, which blended strength, speed, and tenacity to the extreme, was practically a “weapon” tailor-made for basketball.
Just at the moment Mike Okita took that half-step back, Maki Shinichi went up for a layup.
It went in!
Maki Shinichi’s expression showed a subtle change; he was very confident in this shot.
However, Mike Okita, with his top-tier body coordination and reaction speed, sprang up like a spring, his fingertips almost blocking the ball.
Bang!
The basketball hit the front rim and bounced off.
“What? He blocked Emperor Maki?”
Gasps of surprise came from the sidelines.
As the ball bounced, both players jumped simultaneously to contest it.
Ultimately, Emperor Maki was superior.
He had a more advantageous position for his jump. He twisted his body in mid-air and tipped the ball towards the hoop again. The second rebound finally went in.
2:1!
However, it seemed that Maki Shinichi's exertion for just these two shots was unusually high.
He was slightly out of breath when he landed, and it's well-known that Emperor Maki's stamina is absolutely top-tier.
It appears that in this confrontation, Mike Okita’s strength was more solid than expected.
Possession changed!
Mike Okita immediately retaliated.
He suddenly pulled up for a shot from beyond the three-point line. Maki Shinichi lunged to defend with all his might, his fingertips almost touching the ball, but Okita's shooting form was rock-solid, and the basketball passed through his fingers, swishing cleanly through the net.
2:2!
Gu Jin nodded from the sidelines—this was the core strength and basketball IQ of a top American high school shooter.
If he could score cleanly with a shot, he would absolutely not engage in unnecessary prolonged struggles with you.
On the next possession, Maki Shinichi seemed to be intentionally controlling the pace.
After taking possession, he didn't rush to drive, but instead turned his back, using his body to post up Okita and grind his way inside.
His back-to-the-basket footwork was very solid, each step carrying absolute power.
Mike Okita immediately lowered his center of gravity and held his ground. The collision of their muscles made “thudding” sounds.
Grinding to near the free-throw line, Maki Shinichi suddenly pushed back with his left shoulder, held the ball with his right hand, brought it around his back from his waist, and with a flick of his wrist, completed a short hook shot.
The basketball skimmed the top edge of the backboard, grazed the inside of the rim, and dropped into the net.
3:2!
This hook shot was more like a center’s technique, yet he used it with even greater agility.
The spectators on the sidelines exclaimed at the brilliance.
It was Mike Okita's possession, and this time he didn't continue to shoot.
Instead, he suddenly accelerated and drove to the left.
Compared to shooting, he was more adept at driving.
Maki Shinichi immediately shifted sideways to block. Just as he was about to cut him off, Mike Okita suddenly stopped short half a step before the free-throw line, tilted his body slightly to evade the defense, kept his right-hand shooting form, and the basketball again swished cleanly through the net.
Pull-up jump shot?
Gu Jin shook his head. In his opinion, Mike Okita’s shot was definitely intended to be a driving dunk.
But just as he was about to confront Maki Shinichi, he chose a pull-up jump shot.
Was it to play it safe? Or had Maki Shinichi's pressure already created a paint awareness in him?
It seems Maki Shinichi’s oppressive presence might only be truly felt by those experiencing it firsthand.
3:3!
Mike Okita looked at Maki Shinichi as he landed. He had indeed wanted to drive and dunk just now, but he had a premonition that if he took another step, he might be blocked by this person.
Truly, very strong!!!
This was the feeling Maki Shinichi gave Mike Okita.
But he would never give up!
On the sixth possession, Maki Shinichi played a trick.
He deliberately slowed his first step of the drive, shuffling his foot along the floor. Okita instinctively leaned forward, and in that instant, Maki Shinichi suddenly exerted force, stomped his right foot hard, and darted out from the right side like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Mike Okita reacted extremely quickly, immediately chasing to defend, but Maki Shinichi had already penetrated into the paint. Facing the block, he performed a mid-air hang, brought the ball from the left side of the backboard to the right with his right hand, and scored with an underhand scoop shot.
4:3!
He smiled as he landed. He hadn't used his full strength with this change-of-pace drive, yet Mike Okita couldn't handle it!