no doubt!

but this dearly needed a Season 2, and since it was never made ....my interpretation is that

1. Sakuragi's injuries were serious and that was his last match he ever played

2. Shohuku never won the nationals, and as time passed by...they found it difficult to even qualify due to the absence of big players

3. Rukawa (future) goes to America trying his luck in the NBA but soon realises this ain't a white man's sport

Yeah i am a Sadist! 😮

its not often japanese are called white