Service change—San Juan to serve.

"Tweet!—"

Oikawa Tōru tossed the ball up and launched a powerful jump serve!

Fernand received the ball head-on, his body falling backwards.

Yoandy stepped in to assist as the secondary setter; with Hinata Shoyo not on court, São Paulo seemed to have shifted him into a secondary playmaking role.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew high to the centre. Wallace leapt for the spike!

"Double block!" Taichi and Loser both jumped.

—BOOM!!!

The ball cleared the block. Conte shifted in a flash, positioning himself perfectly under it.

Smack!!!

The ball slammed into Conte's arms, then arced high back over to São Paulo's side.

"Chance ball!"

Sanhos secured the ball, Fernand jumped to set, and São Paulo's entire front row launched a synchronised attack!

Loser and Taichi spread to block.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew to the left wing—Reilly pounded it down!

BOOM!!!

A sharp straight shot zipped past Loser's left side, landing precisely on San Juan's sideline and bouncing up.

Reilly scored with a spike!

[San Juan 1 - 2 São Paulo]

Although both were front-row attackers, Reilly looked much more relaxed than Hinata Shoyo. While Hinata no longer depended on perfect sets to attack, São Paulo's setter still couldn't fully utilise his potential.

"What a shame," Coach Suzaku thought. "If Hinata were on a Japanese team, he'd definitely have more room to shine."

Service change—São Paulo to serve.

Souza's powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Oikawa received it.

"Nice serve!"

Souza's serve was effective at disrupting the setter—a great success.

Conte covered and calmly set the ball high in the middle.

Both teams handled disrupted sets in the same way: their back-row outside hitter stepped up to assist.

Thud!

Taichi jumped!

"Triple block!" Lucas, Reilly, and Wallace all leapt.

Even after rotations, São Paulo managed to assemble a strong triple block.

But it didn't matter.

—BOOM!!!

The ball cleared the block and slammed hard into São Paulo's back right corner.

Souza's arm swung across but missed completely.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!

[San Juan 2 - 2 São Paulo]

Service change—San Juan to serve.

"Loser, serve us a good one."

"Got it!"

Loser looked tense as he stepped to the line.

"Oi, that guy's expression is way too stiff…"

"Tweet!—"

Oikawa had just spoken when the whistle blew.

Loser's powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Pop!

The ball skimmed the net—and dropped into São Paulo's court.

"So scary."

Smack!

Sanhos dove and barely saved it, the pass only half-accurate!

"Pro liberos have insane reflexes!"

Reilly, closest to the ball, acted as setter. Wallace on the right wing went for the spike!

"Set was low."

BOOM!!!

"Double block!" Taichi and Ramos both jumped.

SMACK!!!

"One touch!" The ball hit Ramos's arm and shot upward.

"Cover!"

Conte chased from behind the baseline and passed it back in. Oikawa jumped to set.

Taichi sprinted along the left and leapt!

"Triple block!"

BOOM!!!—

The ball snuck through the blockers' hands.

"He's at it again—this absurd guy."

THUD!!!

The ball slammed precisely on São Paulo's right sideline and bounced out.

A super tight cross-court angle.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!

[San Juan 3 - 2 São Paulo]

—"Beautiful spike! San Juan takes the lead with consecutive points!"

San Juan continued serving. Loser's second serve.

Smack!!!

"Oi, did he hold back this time?"

Yoandy received it steadily—perfect pass.

Fernand jumped to set. São Paulo's front row launched a triple-attack option.

"This idiot…"

Taichi and Ramos spread their block.

The ball flew to the centre—Reilly jumped for the spike!

Bruno leapt alone to block, while Taichi and Ramos rushed in from either side to reinforce.

—BOOM!!!

A high-reaching spike!

The ball soared above Bruno's block and smashed toward San Juan's back row.

Smack!

Oikawa dug it!

"They read the trajectory!"

The ball flew high and drifted near the endline.

"I got it!"

Conte covered once more, confidently tossing it up high to the left—to their trusted ace.

Thud!

Taichi leapt to spike!

"Triple block!"

BOOM!!!

The ball hit Lucas's arm and flew far out of bounds.

Block-out.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!

[San Juan 4 - 2 São Paulo]

—"Unstoppable! Absolutely unstoppable!"

—"If São Paulo's decision to start Luca Reilly was meant to strengthen their block, it's clearly had no effect on Taichi!"

"Loser!"

"Sorry!" Loser scratched his head. He hadn't intended to serve a "safe ball," but hesitated at the last second.

"Hit a proper serve."

"Understood!"

San Juan continued serving.

"Tweet!—"Whistle.

Loser's third serve!

BOOM!!!

A ferocious missile barreled toward São Paulo's back row—a truly powerful serve!

Smack!!!

Yoandy received it, his body jolting slightly.

The ball flew forward at an angle; Fernand rushed to set.

"Right wing!"

Taichi shouted—it was easy to read where the set was going.

Wallace leapt for the spike!

"Double block!" Taichi and Ramos both jumped, blocking in front of him.

—BOOM!!!

The ball soared above the block and slammed into Oikawa's arm, bouncing out of bounds.

A monstrous high-hands smash!

Wallace scored with a spike!

[San Juan 4 - 3 São Paulo]

—"São Paulo's Wallace is equally unstoppable! He's successfully halted San Juan from pulling further ahead!"

"The best serve ended up costing us a point instead…I don't even know what to say." Conte thought silently.

Service change—São Paulo to serve.

Wallace stepped to the line.

"Tweet!—"

BOOOM!!!

Wallace's powerful jump serve!

The ball streaked like a phantom toward San Juan's back row.

Smack!!!

Oikawa barely got under it—the ball flew out past the endline!

—"In this fourth set, São Paulo's serving strategy is obvious—almost every serve is targeting Oikawa Tōru!"

Santiago chased it beyond the endline, dove, and barely saved it back into play.

Final attack!

The ball dropped toward San Juan's back row. Taichi ran in reverse, jumped off one foot, and rotated midair for the spike!

—BOOM!!!

"No way!"

"Double block!" Lucas and Reilly jumped together!

The ball cleared the block and dove sharply over the net!

"Wait—that's Alexander's topspin attack?!"

The ball dropped near São Paulo's endline.

Smack!

Yoandy spun and dove, saving it!

Fernand stepped in to set. Lucas jumped from the centre for a spike!

BOOM!!!—

—SMACK!!

The ball hit Taichi's arm and bounced back into São Paulo's court.

"When did he get there?!"

Smack!

Sanhos secured it. Reilly stepped up quickly, gently tossing it high.

Wallace leapt from the back row for another spike!

"Double block!" Taichi and Ramos jumped again!

Smack!!!—

Wallace brushed it lightly off Ramos's arm.

Block-out!

The ball flew wide past San Juan's right sideline.

Conte dove, cushioning it under the ball.

"Got it!!!"

Oikawa scrambled to cover. Taichi sprinted laterally and jumped!

Whoosh—!

The ball shot to the far left side!

"Double block!" Lucas and Reilly tracked him, blocking in front.

BOOM!!!

The ball smashed into the block —

"It's been blocked!"

The ball rebounded toward San Juan's side, landing just outside the left sideline.

Block-out!

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!

[San Juan 5 - 3 São Paulo]

—"Conte's final dig was truly beautiful!"

—"São Paulo is putting up a fierce fight!"

—"Both teams are pushing offence to the limits—and in the end, it's San Juan who takes the point!!!"

"Woooaaah!!!"

The crowd at the sidelines erupted in cheers.

-----

Smack!

Wallace received the ball cleanly, and it sailed steadily to the front row.

Fernand leapt and spiked!

Bruno jumped alone to block.

BOOM!!!

The ball avoided the block and crashed heavily into San Juan's court.

—"Once again, Fernand's second-touch attack!"

—"He's like a real attacker—a single blocker alone can't shake his decision to spike!"

Smack!

Taichi dug the ball, though the first pass wasn't ideal.

Oikawa quickly covered, setting the ball high to the right wing—Conte leapt for the spike!

"Double block!" Lucas and Reilly jumped together.

BOOM!!!—

The ball zipped past Reilly, skimming the right sideline and flying deep into São Paulo's backcourt—a razor-straight line shot!

Smack!

Wallace received it!

Fernand hustled to set, sending it high to the left. Yoandy jumped from the back row for a spike!

"Bruno!"

Only Ramos had time to move to the left side. Bruno had to join the block; they both jumped.

Yoandy's gaze flickered over the net, locking eyes with Taichi in the back row.

BOOM!!!

The ball ricocheted off Bruno's arm and dropped in front of him.

Off-the-hand into the net.

Yoandy scored with a spike!

[San Juan 15 - 14 São Paulo]

Yoandy clearly didn't want to give Taichi any chance to touch the ball.

Service change—São Paulo to serve.

Reilly's powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Compared to Hinata Shoyo, Reilly's serve was even more ferocious!

The ball shot down steeply over the net. Santiago dove forward, barely saving it.

"Cover!"

As the ball looked ready to cross the net, Conte leapt and deftly tipped it left—Ramos jumped for the spike!

BOOM!!!—

—SMACK!!!

The ball was decisively blocked, crashing down into San Juan's court.

Yoandy scored with a block!

[San Juan 15 - 15 São Paulo]

Scores tied!

"Please! At least win this set!" São Paulo fans silently prayed.

For São Paulo, winning the match was of course ideal.

If they won, they would reach 5 points (San Juan had already won two sets, so São Paulo could earn at most 2 points here). In the afternoon, Trentino would need to sweep Nizhnev 3-0 to tie São Paulo's points and force a playoff match.

Otherwise, São Paulo would advance directly.

Even if São Paulo didn't win this match, as long as they took this fourth set, they'd secure at least 1 point—and this crucial point could open up many possibilities.

If Trentino didn't win big, São Paulo would definitely get a playoff, or even advance directly.

This set was absolutely critical!

-----

"Tweet!—" Whistle for serve.

Reilly's second serve!

BOOM!!!

Taichi was forced to receive it—the ball soared high, imperfect.

Oikawa covered quickly, setting to the right wing. Conte jumped for the spike!

BOOM!!!—

"Double block!" Yoandy and Lucas were fast to close in.

The ball slipped between them and smashed towards São Paulo's left-side three-meter line.

A sharp, beautiful cross shot!

Smack!!

Fernand barely received it, but the ball veered out of bounds.

Sanhos chased it down and returned it to play.

Final attack—Yoandy had reset and jumped for a spike!

"Double block!" Ramos and Conte both jumped.

No clear opening to score.

Yoandy read the blockers carefully—in that case…

BOOM!!!—

The ball passed along the left edge of the block, hammering into San Juan's back corner.

Smack!

Taichi was locked down again.

Even with a forced, awkward swing, São Paulo still got another chance to counter!

Bruno moved in to cover.

"I got it!"

Oikawa ran in to cover too, jumping to set with both hands.

Bruno hurriedly backed off.

Whoosh!—

The ball soared steadily to the right wing—Conte leapt for the spike!

"Perfect height!"

Yoandy and Lucas both jumped.

The ball cleared the top of the block, striking Reilly's arm in the back row and flying out.

An unstoppable high-hands missile.

Conte scored with a spike!

[San Juan 16 - 15 São Paulo]

"Brazil's defence is so sticky! They almost never let San Juan's spikes hit the floor cleanly!"

"The defenders are always right there!"

-----

After the technical timeout, service change—San Juan to serve.

"Beep! São Paulo requests a substitution."

"Hinata Shōyō IN, Luca Reilly OUT."

Late in the set, Coach Rezende brought Hinata back on, adding yet another layer to their defence.

"Tweet!—"Whistle for serve.

Bruno switched from a float serve to a power jump serve!

Smack!

Wallace still managed a perfect pass. Fernand set high to the left—Yoandy jumped!

"Double block!" Conte and Ramos both jumped.

BOOM!!!—

"Wow! That tight cross! Unreal!"

The ball zipped under the block, screaming down toward San Juan's right-side three-meter line.

Oikawa lunged forward to dig it—the ball ricocheted up and flew past the antenna, landing outside São Paulo's sideline.

"What insane power! It rebounded straight out!"

Yoandy scored with a spike!

[San Juan 16 - 16 São Paulo]

Service change—São Paulo to serve.

Lucas's power jump serve!

Smack!!

Bruno's pass wasn't ideal—the ball angled forward near the net.

Oikawa scrambled up to set, sending it high in the centre. Conte leapt to attack!

"Double block!" Souza and Yoandy both jumped.

BOOM!!!

The ball struck Yoandy's arm and flew out.

"I got it!"

Hinata clearly knew why he was subbed in. He sprinted fast, sliding under and cleanly digging the ball back in!

"Beautiful save!"

Fernand couldn't help but shout in praise.

Crisis turned to counterattack instantly!

Whoosh!—

The ball flew left—Yoandy leapt to spike!

"Double block!"

"It's a decoy!"

Wallace charged from the back row and jumped to spike!

Ramos landed and instantly stepped sideways, jumping again to block!

BOOM!!!

The ball easily slipped past the block, falling into San Juan's centre court!

Smack!

Taichi one-handed it up!

The ball soared, dropping near the end line.

Santiago passed it back toward the net—Conte jumped to spike!

"Too close!"

BOOM!!!—

—SMACK!!!

The ball hit Yoandy's arm and dropped back into San Juan's side.

Taichi couldn't cover in time.

Yoandy scored with a block!

[San Juan 16 - 17 São Paulo]

"Sorry!" Santiago gestured to Conte.

In wanting to push for a counterattack, they had exposed an opening first. Santiago's pass left Conte no room to adjust at the net.

"It's fine, just a shame Taichi's dig went to waste." Conte sighed.

When Conte was blocked just now, he'd glimpsed Taichi stepping in to cover. If he hadn't forced the spike so aggressively, they might have extended the rally longer.

São Paulo continued serving.

Lucas's second serve!

BOOM!!!

Taichi received it—perfect pass.

Oikawa jumped in front to set; Ramos and Conte both approached for a fake.

Whoosh!—

São Paulo's front block was split wide. Oikawa instantly sent it far left—Ramos leapt to spike!

Souza jumped alone to block.

BOOM!!!

The ball deftly avoided the block, hammering into São Paulo's deep right corner.

A vicious cross-court shot!

Because Lucas was serving, he was São Paulo's biggest weak point in the back row—Ramos's choice was perfect!

Smack!

Hinata dashed in and received it!

"How did he—?!"

"They saw it coming!"

Hinata had already prepared to cover for Lucas but deliberately left Ramos some space to swing.

"Beautiful receive!"

Fernand set it up, Yoandy rose in the centre!

"Double block!"

"They can't stop it…"

—BOOM!!!

The ball soared over the block, smashing into Bruno's arm and flying out.

A powerful straight-line kill.

Yoandy scored with a spike!

[San Juan 16 - 18 São Paulo]

In a deadlocked match like this, the later it went, the more it highlighted the importance of consistent performance.

Up to now, every block from Yoandy Leal had been airtight, every spike had landed like a meteor crashing to earth. He had become São Paulo's final key to breaking free of their predicament.

São Paulo continued serving.

Lucas's third serve!

BOOM!!!

Taichi received it perfectly.

Oikawa jumped at the net to set, facing Fernand's solo block on the second touch.

Whoosh!—

The ball soared high in the middle.

Conte's pupils shrank slightly; sometimes, Oikawa showed a threat level just like Taichi.

"Give it to me!"

Thud!

Conte soared high!

"Double block!" Souza and Yoandy both jumped.

"It's going to be a high-contact spike!"

The moment Hinata saw the ball's height, he quickly retreated to the baseline.

Smack!

"——?!"

Conte's right arm stretched to its highest point. Then, with his wrist snapping downward, he brushed his fingertips across the top-back of the ball.

A tip shot!

The ball dropped almost flush behind the block. Hinata lunged forward desperately, diving to save it.

Smack!

The ball popped up within São Paulo's three-meter line.

Conte scored with a spike!

[San Juan 17 - 18 São Paulo]

"That guy…would he really choose a tip in that moment?"

Miya Atsumu looked utterly shocked. To anyone, that had been a perfect moment for a monster high-hands kill. Even if Hinata had been in the right position, it was still a 50–50 chance at best whether he could dig it.

Yet Conte chose to tip.

"Because he commanded the highest point, he had the right to decide his next move." Kunimi Akira didn't think Hinata's reaction was a mistake. If Hinata hadn't retreated, Conte's heavy hit would have easily landed near the baseline—no doubt about it.

Service change—San Juan to serve.

Ramos's powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Hinata received it, though only a half-perfect pass.

Fernand hustled to cover and set. Yoandy jumped in the middle for the spike!

Conte and Loser both jumped to block.

SMACK!!!

"They stopped it!"

"One touch!" Loser shouted.

The ball bounced off his hands and deflected toward the sideline.

Oikawa deftly pushed it up.

Taichi leapt from the back row for the spike!

"Double block!" Yoandy hurriedly jumped, along with Souza, both rising to meet him.

BOOM!!!

The ball ripped straight through the gap between them, hammering towards São Paulo's backcourt.

"Their sight was blocked!"

Hinata only saw the ball appear suddenly, with no time to react.

Smack!

Sanhos received it, rolling backwards in a full tumble.

The ball soared high, headed beyond the end line.

"Shorty—!"

Before Sanhos even finished shouting, Hinata was already moving.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew stably toward São Paulo's net—a backward set from Hinata!

Wallace leapt from the back row for the spike!

"Double block!" Conte and Loser jumped together.

SMACK!!!

The ball struck Conte's arm and flew out of bounds.

Off-the-hands out.

Wallace scored with a spike!

[San Juan 17 - 19 São Paulo]

"Beautiful set, Shorty." Wallace sincerely praised him.

He had watched Hinata grow at an astonishing pace over this past year—that dusty boy who returned from the sands to the indoor court, now moving step by step closer to becoming a true "Sun."

Service change—São Paulo to serve, Wallace moved to the front row.

Fernand's powerful jump serve!

In this fourth set, São Paulo had targeted only Oikawa and Taichi with their serves!

Smack!

"Conte!"

Taichi calmly received it, the first pass flying high and floating toward the left wing!

"For Taichi, this kind of serve is practically a gift."

Conte sprinted down the left sideline and jumped.

"Double block!" Wallace and Souza both jumped together.

"They read it."

Conte smiled faintly and pushed the ball toward the right wing instead.

Fake swing—quick set!

Taichi launched from the back row for the spike!

Yoandy jumped alone to block.

A one-on-one at the net!

Yet, midair, Taichi's eyes darted toward São Paulo's deep left corner.

Hinata stared at that figure in the air, clearly understanding the meaning behind his gaze.

"Bring it on!"

BOOOM!!!—

The ball pierced through the left edge of the block, flying straight for the back corner.

Hinata dashed across, arms raised—but only brushed a swirl of chaotic air.

The ball kissed his fingertips and crashed heavily behind him.

THUD!!!

A line shot!

The ball boomed against the floor, followed by a tidal wave of gasps from the crowd.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!

[San Juan 18 - 19 São Paulo]

"I am the sun."

Taichi wore an unabashed, confident smile, wild and utterly domineering.

_________