The next day, the quarterfinals began. Shoyo was at today's gymnasium, where the first game featured Akita Prefecture's King of the Mountain Industrial Basketball Team against Shizuoka Prefecture's Changcheng Basketball Team. From the start, King of the Mountain gained the upper hand, but Changcheng, a veteran powerhouse, was well-prepared and kept the score close. The game was intense and thrilling, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. By the end of the first half, the score was 47:40, leaving Changcheng with a chance to catch up.
"King of the Mountain is really strong. They have no obvious weaknesses. We've played against Changcheng before, and although we won all three matches, none of them were as dominant as this. King of the Mountain is in complete control, leaving no room for Changcheng to turn things around," Nakamura, the captain, observed after watching the first half.
"That's right. Even though we beat Changcheng, those matches were hard-fought and came down to the wire. But King of the Mountain is playing Changcheng differently—they've had the initiative from the start and haven't allowed Changcheng to gain momentum. Even though the score is only 47:40, with Changcheng trailing by 7 points, it's clear that Changcheng is already giving their all, while King of the Mountain is holding back. The two teams aren't on the same level. The AA powerhouse truly lives up to its reputation. I wonder how they'll fare against Hakata Shogyo University Affiliated Basketball Team, which is also at the AA level," Sugiyama added.
Now that Shoyo had entered the national tournament, the players had seen many strong teams and understood their styles and strengths. They were no longer like frogs in a well, only familiar with Hainan and Wurri. This national league had been a tremendous learning experience for the Shoyo players, broadening their horizons and helping them grow.
"Sugiyama is right. King of the Mountain is clearly holding back some strength. They haven't even used their signature tactic—the full-court tight zone press—yet," Kudo explained to his team. "I've analyzed King of the Mountain, and they usually deploy this strategy in the second half. Pay close attention to how they execute it when the second half begins!"
"Understood, Coach!" the team replied in unison.
At the start of the second half, King of the Mountain unleashed their signature full-court tight zone press, which was far more intense than their first-half defense. Changcheng, being a regular in the national tournament, was prepared for this tactic. Unlike the unprepared teams of the past, they didn't collapse completely. However, despite their preparation, the gap in player quality between the two teams became evident as the score slowly widened.
66:45—the difference grew to 21 points as King of the Mountain went on a 19:5 run in just five minutes.
"King of the Mountain's full-court press is incredible," Nakamura remarked, watching the desperate Changcheng players.
"Yes, there are still 15 minutes left, and the gap has already reached 21 points. The difference between a Class A team and an AA powerhouse is just too big. Their full-court press is truly formidable," Sugiyama added.
"King of the Mountain's full-court press is strong, but it's not invincible. Didn't they lose to Hakata Shogyo University Affiliated Basketball Team in last year's national tournament?" Kudo said, noticing his players' apprehension. "King of the Mountain's success with this tactic relies on their exceptional stamina, speed, and teamwork. It's especially effective against teams with weak ball control and passing abilities, which Changcheng happens to be. But you guys are different."
"Really?" Nakamura asked eagerly.
"Yes. Do you know why Hakata Shogyo was able to beat King of the Mountain? It's because their stamina and coordination are on par with King of the Mountain's, and their teamwork is even better," Kudo explained. "And Nakamura, you should remember that Coach Otake, who trained you before me, modeled your development after Hakata Shogyo's style. Even though it didn't fully work out, you've all developed strong ball control, passing skills, and teamwork. That's why, if you face King of the Mountain, you won't be overwhelmed like Changcheng."
Kudo continued, "The most terrifying aspect of King of the Mountain's full-court press isn't the defense itself—it's the psychological impact. If you let them control the pace like Changcheng did, you'll lose your composure, your judgment, your confidence, and eventually, even the will to fight. So remember, no matter what happens, don't lose confidence or hope. Even if you're outmatched in skill, you must never lose Shoyo's Fighting Spirit. Understood?"
"Understood!!!" the team shouted in unison.
"Alright, the match between King of the Mountain and Changcheng is almost over. Let's head down and get ready!" Kudo said, seeing that there were less than five minutes left in the game.
"Yes!"
"Alright, King of the Mountain has secured their spot in the semifinals. Now it's our turn to perform!" Luo An's captain rallied his teammates, already declaring Changcheng's defeat.
"Yes!!!"
The final score was 89:56, with Changcheng losing by 33 points and once again falling short of the Final Four. King of the Mountain advanced to the semifinals, but instead of leaving, they stayed to observe their potential opponent for tomorrow's match.
"Which team do you think has a better chance of winning this match?" one of King of the Mountain's players asked his teammate, watching the two teams warm up.
"It should be Luo An. They're a seasoned powerhouse, while Shoyo is a dark horse with limited experience. They haven't made it to the nationals in years, and just reaching the Elite Eight is a big achievement for them. Besides, didn't Shoyo lose to Hainan in the qualifiers? That shows they're still a step away from being a true contender," his teammate replied. Since Shoyo and King of the Mountain weren't in the same group, the players hadn't watched Shoyo's matches and were relying on assumptions.
"Don't underestimate Shoyo. Their strength isn't what you think," Goro Donmoto, King of the Mountain's young coach, interjected. Although the team hadn't watched Shoyo's matches, Donmoto had collected and reviewed tapes of their games. He had a good understanding of Shoyo's capabilities. Despite his youth, Donmoto had coached King of the Mountain for two years and never underestimated any potential opponent. King of the Mountain's intelligence-gathering was also the best in the country. In the original timeline, after learning their group assignments, they quickly obtained tapes of Shonai's matches, showcasing their efficiency and thoroughness.