For the win!!

Mitsui scored 32 points after this three, the highest in the game and he scored half of the team's total.

"Seems like you haven't gotten rusty, Mitsui!!" Akagi said as they went back to defense.

"What's up w/ you, Akagi? You still haven't showed the Gorilla I knew before!!" he replied.

"Stop w/ the nonsense, Mitsui!" Akagi said.

"Hmph! Pak!" the two high-five and other Shohoku players.

"We've got a big lead!!"

"Alright!!"

"Our chance is here!!"

"Beat Shoyo!!"

"Let's enter the finals!!"

"Only three minutes left! We're gonna win this!!" Shohoku and fans are excited to see the team winning and advance to the next round.

"Hisashi Mitsui-senpai!!" Hikoichi said and wrote the word MVP on his notepad.

"His MVP's strength is still there..." Coach Taoka once had attempted to recruit Mitsui into Ryonan, but got rejected and chooses Shohoku instead.

"Although he was really an awful person before but now you're completely different!!"

"Give it to Mitsui!!"

""Just let Mitsui shot another three pointer!!"

"Mitsui! 4x" Sakuragi's gang shouted.

"Those Sakuragi's friends..." Mitsui said.

"Damn it... Don't monopolize the limelight, Mitchi!" Sakuragi said while in foul trouble and he didn't score much.

Fujima pass the ball to Shoyo's no. eight, guarding him was Sakuragi who's in foul trouble and worried about getting fouled out in the game.

"Stop him! Sakuragi!!"Akagi shouted.

Seeing Sakuragi back-off, Shoyo's no. eight didn't hesitate any longer and lays the ball into the basket.

Mitsui came to the rescue; he swats the ball off the hand of the opponent and run for the fast break.

"It won't go in!" Hasegawa is watching the team getting slaughtered by a single opponent.

Passing the midcourt, MItsui shoots a long three and "Swish!!" the ball entered.

"Shohoku 68 vs. 44 Shoyo, Shohoku is now leading by twenty-four points! And Mitsui's thirty-fifth point" Hikoichi said.

"Yaaahh!!" Mitsui shouted and raised three fingers over his head.

"Three pointers in a row!!"

"He scored again!!"

"He's unstoppable!!"

"Mitsui really is terrifying...!"

"No wonder he was a former MVP!" the crowd discussing since Shohoku has a big lead due to him.

"Jin... You both are three point shooters, so what do you think him?" Maki asked the sharp shooter of the team.

"His shooting form and motion is quite good... that shot just now also showed how confident he was and he's that streaky type of shooter.

He's pretty the same as me... minus the MVP title!" Jin replied.

"Give me ball!! If you have the ability then stop me!! Watch this!!" Shoyo kept on targeting Sakuragi's defense.

"What are you afraid of Sakuragi?" Sendoh has been observing him.

"Bang!!" Rukawa went to help Sakuragi and got fouled in the process.

"Fweeett!" the referee whistled.

"Foul!! Shohoku no. eleven!!!" the game announcer said.

"Rukawa!!" Shohoku bench was on the edge coz Rukawa is also in foul trouble.

"Yaaahh! This dirty punk!!" Shoyo player said.

"Tsk!" Rukawa raised his hand as acknowledging the foul.

"Are you alright?" Miyagi asked.

"Rukawa ..." Sakuragi said.

"That kid Rukawa saw that Shoyo wanted to attack from Sakuragi's weak side. it's just really a pity that..." Koshino of Ryonan said.

"Free throws!!" the ref said.

"Dang!! 2x" however, Tagano of Shoyo's both free throws were missed.

"Rebound!!" both sides shouted, while Rukawa got the rebound.

"What?!" players fighting for the rebound said.

"Rukawa!" Mitsui shouted, as he sprints for the fast break and "Yah!!"Rukawa throws it to him.

"Fujima?!" Mitsui said.

Shoyo's ace and coach got his hand on the ball but unable to establish the possession.

The ball was deflected out of bounds towards Shoyo's bench. Mitsui didn't give up on the play and still able to grab it.

Rukawa signals to throw the ball to him, w/ one hand he passed it before he crashed to Shoyo's bench area.

"Mitsui!!" Kogure shouted while Rukawa is against three opponents on the fast break.

"Booom!!" Rukawa displayed another tomahawk dunk.

"Mitsui! Are you ok?!" Kogure and Shohoku's bench went to see his condition.

"Hey, this is not like you!! What are you so scared of!?" Rukawa asked Sakuragi.

"Shohoku 70 vs. 44 Shoyo, Shohoku is now leading by twenty-six points! Mitsui literally sacrificed his body in this game; his teammates helped him back to the bench and will sit in the remaining of the game". Hikoichi said.

"Last two minutes!!!" the game announcer said and Shohoku's fans are cheering happily, while Shoyo's loud cheering squad is slowly exiting the arena.

Mitsui finally was taken back to rest and he scored a game high of thirty-five points, plus two assists, one steal and one block in thirty-eight minutes of playing.

"I did my best! Anzai-sensei..." Mitsui sit beside him.

"Mitsui-kun... We're lucky to have you on the team..." Coach Anzai said.

"Sensei!" Mitsui covered his w/ towel, while tears of joy are flowing down his eyes and felt relieved about playing again in the team.

Rukawa's words earlier are repeatedly played in his head.

"Arrrgg!!" Sakuragi release all stress he has keeping since the game and head-butt's the floor.

"!?" the reactions of the players, both benches and the crowd.

"What the heck is he doing?" Akagi said.

"Who is scared of whom?" Sakuragi replied like the usual.

"Who else do you think? Of course it's you! You're really an idiot!" Rukawa said.

"I will not lose to you, Rukawa!!" Sakuragi said.

"Yeah!! 2x, all talk and I'm a thousand better than you!" Rukawa said.

"Here they go again!! Shohoku's infamous drama "A bunch of problem children!" Ayako and coach Anzai watched the two rookies argue.

.

"For the win!! Raise your fighting spirit!!" Akagi said, as they defend the last two minutes and secured the semi-final berth.