The Last Elimination Games

Shohoku Vs. Shoyo 1

Ngayong araw nga magaganap ang laban ng Shohoku at Shoyo. Napagalaman nga ng Shohoku nang mga nakaraang araw na sila talaga ang humakot ng mga magagaling na players from Jr. High school tournaments. Pero dahil sa reputasyon ng Shoyo, they managed to get 3 bigs. A first year named Adachi Ryu, wearing number 10 a power forward with a height of 202 cm. Kiriyama Genji, wearing number 8, small forward na ang height ay 196 cm. Hayashi Suichiro, Center wearing number 11 na ang height ay 210 cm. Lahat ng mga rookies na ito ay kasama sa first 5 line up. Kasama ang dalawang 3rd players na sila Saito Ren, point guard na. Team captain, no. 4 jersey na 183cm ang height. At Hachimura Akio, no. 5 jersey, shooting guard 193 cm.

On the way to the stadium, Sakuragi and co. Are riding a public transportation. Yes, train. Dito ay mapapansin niyong nagbabangayan nanaman ang dalawang manager natin tungkol sa simpleng bagay at pinagigitnaan si Sakuragi na sobrang konsumisyon na nga ang nararamdaman. Kaya umalis ito sa tabi nila at mas pinili nalang na tumayo. Pagtayo niya ay may isang babae ang lumapit sakanya at daglian siyang kinausap.

Girl: So, Sakuragi Hanamichi-san, what will we expect from you in today's game. Surely you are not gonna hold back right? Malalaki ang kalaban niyo.

Sakuragi: Oh, well Hello to you too, ate ni Hikoichi. Don't worry, I will not hold back today. Kakailanganin ako ni Oda sa ilalim at masyadong malaki ang sentro nila. I think hanggang leeg lang siya.

Girl: Call me Aida, and girls, don't look at me like that, I'm just interviewing this handsome fella.

Sakuragi: Yes, yes. She's the local TV reporter who covered the whole games all over Japan. Congrats po pala sa promotions.

Aida: Thank you. Ah, just one last question. How did you improve so much in just a span of 2+ years? Most of the guys who's aspiring to be a baller ay talagang pinaghihirapan ang training.

Sakuragi: Some might say that I'm just physically gifted but I disagree. Of course gruesome training, after ko sa mga basic drills na pinagagawa saakin noong first year ako. Remember the time when I got injured 2 years ago?

Aida: Yes.

Sakuragi: So nakapaglaro pa ko sa last game namin against Aiwa High, before ako dalhin sa rehab. After 4 months of therapy, Dr. Yamaguchi, the one who helped me healed is also the team Takashita's coach. He took me under his wing for a month training. That includes the treacherous training regimen, balance diets and attitude adjustments. Kaya nawala na ang pagiging balasubas ko. Hahaha. Then when I got back from my month long training, bumalik ako dito sa Kanagawa with my mindset of being a champ. Oh, yes. Every weekend is my training sesh with the guys from our National Team in Saitama. And then, after winter tourney that year. Sumailalim naman ako sa 5 months training sa Saitama Blue Devils. And pagtapos naming malaglag last year, I undergone a 2 month long training with the Kawasaki Brave Thunder. Lahat yan ay hindi naging madali. Lalo na yung 2 months training. Saksi ang girlfriend ko dun. Training ako for the whole daylight then naglalaro pa ako sa mga ligang labas every night.

Aida: Wow! I never thought na ganyan pala ang pinagdaanan mo para marating ang level mo ngayon. Rest assured na nakacheck lahat ng infos na ishinare mo sakin, you'll see it in my website and we might be allowed to proceed with the documentary regarding this. Last na talaga. What are your plans after playing this year? Are you gonna play more to get some scholarships or do the best you can in your studies?

Sakuragi: Well, me and my Girlfriend right there, will be focusing our studies next year. After high school, we will try our luck in US to see if I can play in some minor pro leagues. That is our goal.

Aida: Ok, I guess that's a wrap, Sakuragi-kun. Thanks for your time. And I'd like to tell you that you've come a long way, I look forward covering your story in the future pag kilala ka na talaga. Don't forget me aight? Bye.

At inabot nga ni Aida ang calling card sa girlfriend ni Sakuragi na si Aoi.

Pagalis ni Aida ay siya namang pagsimangot ni Aoi.

Aoi: Hng! Dadami nanaman jologs mo! Hng!

Haruko: Hahahaha. Oo nga.

Napabuntong hininga nalang si Sakuragi at napangiti kay Aoi.

Pagdating nila sa Stadium ay dumiretso na sila sa locker at nagpabilog silang lahat at nagstretching before warm up.

Oda: Tol, masyadong malaki ang freshman na makakaharap ko. Kaya kaya?

Sakuragi: Oo. Kaya yan. So ito ang magiging line up natin.

Kenzo #7 point guard
Rukawa #5 shooting guard
Sakuragi #4 small forward
Oda #10 power forward
Tobirama #13 Center.

Yeah, I think my laban laban naman tayo. Mas matangkad tayo sakanila from pg to power forward. So ang plano ay si Oda ang tatalon sa jump ball. And Tobirama, if you can get the rebound from that ginormous center, kick out. We don't want you trapped inside. Ok?

Tobirama: Ok po.

Oda: You got this!

Sakuragi: Kenzo, Rukawa, kayong dalawa ang bahala sa pagseset ng plays natin. Wala akong ibang gagawin ngayon kundi tulungan ang dalawang bigs natin sa loob just in case. You can still pass it to me if nagigipit kayo. And all of you! No wasted movements! Pag nanalo tayo dito, final 4 na! Maliwanag?

Lahat sila: Oo!

At after that ay lumabas na kami para magwarm up.