The coach Otani whom Rukawa Kaede spoke of is actually the current head coach of the youth training team, Otani Sugito. This coach is now 63 years old and was once a member of the Neon National Team.
After retiring, he still worked hard in the basketball career and once coached the national team. However, in recent years, he has grown older and stepped down from the forefront of the national team to coach the younger generation of players.
"Coach Otani?" Coach Anzai heard this and murmured. Looking at him, he seemed to know the coach Otani whom Rukawa Kaede was talking about.
"Dad, do you know the coach of the National Youth Team?!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi was keenly aware of Coach Anzai's tone just now, as if he knew Coach Otani, and immediately asked with a smile.
"Ah! I know him. I used to be teammates with him."
"It's just that we haven't seen each other for many years, and I only have some memories after hearing Rukawa-san talk about it."
"I'm old and can't remember things anymore."
Coach Anxi replied with a smile, with a hint of reminiscence in his tone. Sakuragi was a little surprised when he heard this, and the surrounding Shohoku players also looked at Coach Anxi in surprise.
The players in Xiangbei basically knew that Coach Anxi was once a national player, but they did not expect that Coach Anxi was once a teammate with the coach of the National Youth Team, and there was such a relationship.
Moreover, the players in Xiangbei didn't know about this relationship before. Otherwise, they would have asked Coach Anxi to take them to see the power of the National Youth Team as soon as possible.
Even Kiyota Nobunaga began to think about asking coach Anzai to establish a relationship and let him join the national youth team.
Although Kiyota says he looks down on the National Youth Team, as a young basketball player, how could he not yearn for a higher-level team?
"Oh——"
"I never thought you had such connections, Dad!"
"How about it, dad, let Xiangbei compete with us!"
"Hey, I will be merciful and won't let Xiangbei lose too ugly."
"Although we in Xiangbei are the champions of the national competition, without the existence of this genius, Xiangbei's combat effectiveness is far less than before."
"The National Youth Team is where the best players in the country gather. If they lose to us, Xiangbei will not lose face."
When Sakuragi Hanamichi spoke, he already regarded himself as a member of the National Youth Team, and the arrogance on his face could not be concealed at all. And his proud attitude also made people like Kiyota Nobunaga and Nango who were not convinced by him extremely angry.
For a moment, all the team members in Xiangbei became excited.
"Coach Anxi, promise them to have a practice match with the National Youth Team!"
"I must prove my ability and beat the red-haired monkey to death!"
Kiyota Nobunaga was the first to jump out and came directly to Coach Anzai's side. He grabbed Coach Anzai's arm and shouted towards Sakuragi Hanamichi in front of him.
At this moment, Nango Koichiro also came behind Kiyota Nobunaga, and cursed at Sakuragi: "It's just luck that I got into the national youth team. You red-haired monkey can't recognize yourself anymore." ”
"Coach, promise, I will teach this idiot a lesson."
Under the leadership of Kiyota Nobunaga and Nango Koichiro, everyone in Shobei also started shouting, and their fighting spirit was high.
When Coach Anzai saw that the players were so eager to compete with the youth training team, he laughed "hohohoho", then nodded and asked Rukawa Kaede:
"Rukawa-kun, when is the time?"
"I agree to play against the youth academy team led by Coach Ohtani."
"I think that for us in Xiangbei, such a competition will also have a big impact!"
Rukawa Kaede heard Coach Anzai's question and was about to answer when Sakuragi Hanamichi answered directly: "The old man means that at any time, our youth training camp will be held at Green Wind High School in Kanagawa Prefecture."
“Youth training is borrowed from Green Wind’s venue.”
"If you want to compete, you can do it anytime!"
"Okay, let's go back and notify the team!"
When Sakuragi Hanamichi heard that Coach Anzai agreed to compete with their youth training team, his face suddenly lit up with joy. After speaking, he looked at Kiyota Nobunaga and Nango Koichiro provocatively, and at the same time raised his chin slightly.
"Hoo ho ho."
"Then let's do it tomorrow. The weather will be cooler in the morning, so it will be better in the morning."
"Seven o'clock."
“As for where the competition is”
Before Coach Anzai could finish what he said, Hanamichi Sakuragi directly interjected: "Just in the arena in Shohoku!"
"It doesn't have to be so troublesome running around."
"It just so happened that there were a few fools in the team who were very curious about our training ground in Xiangbei, and we asked them to come and have a look at our gym in Xiangbei."
When he said this, Sakuragi Hanamichi once again considered himself a Shohoku player. This flexible identity change caught everyone off guard.
"It's fine to hold the competition in our Xiangbei."
"Then let's compete in our Xiangbei."
After finalizing the training match with the youth training team, Jinguji Budo, who had been standing by without interrupting, finally smiled and asked Sakuragi:
"Sakuragi, how does the training intensity of the youth training compare with ours in Xiangbei?"
"Having played half a moon there, how much do you think you have improved?"
Compared to what kind of opponent they will encounter tomorrow, Jinguji Budo is actually more concerned about Sakuragi Hanamichi's growth. After Mitsui Hisashi and other third-year players retired from the team, the future of Shohoku High School will be shouldered by first-year students like him and Sakuragi Hanamichi.
The upper limit of Sakuragi's personal ability will affect the upper limit of the entire team.
"Hahahahaha!"
"My genius is different from some people. Although the training intensity is much stronger than that of Xiangbei, for me, it is very easy! Very easy! Hahahaha!"
When Sakuragi Hanamichi said this, he glanced at Rukawa Kaede from the corner of his eye, as if he meant something. It seems that something happened during the training camp of the youth training team.
Rukawa Kaede noticed Sakuragi Hanamichi's gaze and muttered "big idiot".
Sakuragi ignored Rukawa Kaede, pointed his thumb at his chest, and said shamelessly: "Brother Martial Arts, wait and see tomorrow!"
"I'm not the same person anymore!"
Seeing Sakuragi Hanamichi's confident look, Jinguji Budo couldn't help but laugh.
"Quite confident!"
"Then let's see how you perform tomorrow. Don't let me down, Sakuragi."
After a few simple exchanges, Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede did not stay in the arena for long. They hurriedly left the arena together.
Under the stimulation of Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede, the training enthusiasm of the players at Shohoku High School was also unprecedentedly high. However, in order to prepare for tomorrow's training match with the youth training team, Budo did not plan to let the players practice too hard in the evening. At around five o'clock, it was announced that the training was over.
Coach Anxi had already left the gym before the team's training ended. As a head coach, he often only controls the general direction of training, and then helps individual players to dunk details.
During normal training, Jinguji Budo, the captain, actually arranges the training content. Coach Anzai only occasionally looks at the martial arts training plan, and on this basis, makes some simple modifications.
At the end of the training, it was still bright, and the daylight hours are a bit long in the summer. After the team members left, Jinguji Martial Arts saw that it was still early, so he did not leave. He held the ball and practiced by himself for a while until the sun set. , Jinguji Budokai left the arena and ended his training.
A night of silence.
The next morning, it was just after 4 o'clock.
The figure of Jinguji Martial Arts jogger has already appeared on the coastline of Kamakura. The genius was bright, and the sky above Jinguji Martial Arts' head was still the night sky, with little stars surrounding Jinguji Martial Arts.
Occasionally, Jinguji Budo can also see Kamakura at four in the morning.
If there is a chance in the future, he would also like to see Los Angeles at four in the morning. If someone pretends to ask him, "Have you ever seen Los Angeles at four in the morning?" Martial Arts will be able to answer the question.
After half an hour of jogging to warm up, the sky got a lot brighter. After Budo sat on the beach and rested for a while, he got up and walked towards the gymnasium of Xianghoku High School.
He came too early, and the gate of Xianghoku High School was not open, but it didn't matter. A low wall of about two meters like Xianghoku High School was useless for martial arts.
After entering the campus via the "empty" road, Budo went to the gym and started some basic warm-up activities.
In the training match with the youth training team, Jinguji Martial Arts is very good, because he feels that the youth training team may be the highest level team he can meet in Shohoku now, and there is a chance to play against such opponents. , martial arts cherishes it especially.
After practicing for an hour, the time came to 6 o'clock.
Wu Dao raised his eyes and glanced at the time on the wall, stopped training, and sat on the bench on the sidelines to recover his strength.
As time passed by, Xiangbei players arrived at the arena one after another, and around 6:30, coach Anzai arrived at the arena.
Just when Coach Anzai entered the Shohoku Arena, the players from the youth training team, led by Coach Ohtani, came to the Shohoku Arena on the back foot.
There are a total of 21 people in the youth training team, all wearing black uniforms with the "Japan" English logo and national flag on the chest.
With the support of uniforms, the players of the youth training team give people a very strong sense of oppression.
With the arrival of the youth training players, the Xiangbei players who had arrived at the gym early to start warming up stopped what they were doing and looked at the youth training players.
Jinguji Martial Arts was sitting on the sidelines, and there were many familiar faces at first glance.
In addition to Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa and Ryota Miyagi from Shohoku High School, Budo also saw Eiji Sawabita, Masashi Kawada and Kazunari Fukatsu from Sanno Industries.
Even Mike Okita from Greenwind High School was actually in the youth training team. In addition to the blond Mike Okita, Budo also saw two black players standing behind Mike Okita. Although his face was very mature, Budo started from this. There are still traces of young people in the behavior of the two black players.
Obviously, this is also a player from the youth training team.
"It's a bit unexpected! It seems that the team's level is not low."
Jinguji Budo looked at the players of the youth training team. At the same time, the eyes of these youth training players were also focused on Jinguji Budo.
"Hoo ho, Anxi!"
"Long time no see!" Coach Otani is a skinny old man. His height is estimated to be 183cm. He is tall and thin and looks very energetic. A man in his sixties has a strong body and a straight back. After seeing Coach Anxi, he quickly came forward to say hello.
Compared with him, Coach Anxi looks very old. Not only has he gained a lot of weight, but his back is also a little rickety.
When shaking hands with Coach Ohtani, you need to raise your head slightly.
"Long time no see! Otani."
Coach Anzai came up to him and greeted Coach Otani.
While the two coaches were chatting and saying hello, the two black players who were closer to Mike Okita were communicating quietly with Mike Okita.
The three people's eyes glanced at martial arts from time to time, seeming to be discussing martial arts.
"Is that person Jinguji Martial Arts?! The number one ace of Oak Hill Academy."
"A guy like this is actually in a place like Neon!"
"Why didn't he stay in Oak Hill to play? Are the conditions here better?"
"Who knows? No matter what the reason is, he is our opponent today."
"Feel for yourself the power of Jinguji Martial Arts. The biggest obstacle to our Green Wind's future is the Shohoku High School led by him."
The two black players, both players from Green Wind High School, communicated with Mike Okita in English.
Jinguji Budo just looked at the players of the youth training team for a moment and then withdrew his gaze. The momentum of these players is quite strong. It can be seen that each of them is very confident and their strength should not be weak.
Unexpectedly, Sakuragi Hanamichi could actually be a starter in such a team. This was something Budo did not expect at the beginning.
Now that the opponent is here, let's prepare a little bit and experience for yourself this youth training team that has gathered the strongest players in the country.
Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede did not communicate with the Shohoku players. Coach Otani ordered the team to start warming up after greeting Coach Anzai.
The captain of the youth training team seems to be Kawada Masashi. Under the leadership of Kawada Masashi, the youth training team began warm-up activities.
The players in Xiangbei knew some of the players in the youth training team to some extent, and they suddenly felt a lot of pressure. During the warm-up period, everyone in Xiangbei was oppressed by the opponent's strong momentum and became speechless.
Wu Dao could clearly feel the tension of the players, but he did nothing and just led the players to warm up.
After nearly half an hour of warm-up activities.
The warm-up match is about to begin, and a member of the youth team serves as the referee temporarily. After the whistle blew, players from both teams began to walk onto the court.
On the Shohoku side, the team is led by Jinguji Budo, center Nango Koichiro, power forward position is Oda Ryumasa, and the two defenders are Kiyota Nobunaga and Katsumi Ichiro.
The players on the youth training team are very interesting. The center position is Kawada Masashi, the power forward is Sakuragi Hanamichi, and the three outside players are Rukawa Kaede, Mike Okita and Sawabita Eiji.
There is no true point guard.
Seeing the lineup sent by the opponent, the players on the Xiangbei side were also a little surprised. They did not expect that the opponent sent so many players with strong ball control at once.
In the opinion of the Xiangbei players, there is simply no fit between the three outside players.
(End of chapter)
