Haruko runs down from the stands crying. Sakuragi smiles and weakly says: “Haruko... mahal ko talaga... ang basketball.”
With 2 seconds left, Sakuragi—barely able to stand—leaps with everything he has. He catches the ball mid-air and, without looking, throws a blind pass to a cutting Rukawa, who slam dunks it as the buzzer sounds.
“Si Sakuragi! Mukhang may tama sa likod! Hindi siya makatayo!” slam dunk tagalog episode 69
But Sakuragi, tears welling but refusing to cry, replies in pure Slam Dunk fashion: “Ang pinakadakilang sandali ng isang manlalaro... ay hindi kapag siya ay nanalo—kundi kapag siya ay lumaban kahit nasasaktan. Gagawin ko ito... para sa team.” Sakuragi returns to the court. The entire gym chants his name. Sannoh’s star player mocks him, but Sakuragi steals the ball with a gutsy defensive play. He passes to Rukawa, who drives to the hoop, but is blocked. The ball flies toward the baseline.
Sakuragi, still feeling the aftermath of his back injury from the previous game, tries to act tough. He brags in his usual makulit (annoying) tone: “Wala ‘yun! Si Sakuragi ay parating handa! Hindi ako natatakot sa Sannoh—mas matatangkad lang sila, pero mas maganda ang buhok ko!” Haruko runs down from the stands crying
Miyagi smirks. Rukawa ignores him as usual. But Haruko, watching from the stands, whispers nervously: “Sakuragi-kun, kaya mo ‘to.” The game is intense. Sannoh leads by 4 points with 1:30 left on the clock. Sakuragi makes a crucial rebound, but as he lands, his back gives way. He falls to the floor, clutching his spine. In Tagalog, the announcer shouts:
“Akala ko dati... ang basketball ay para lang manalo ng babae. Pero ngayon, nahanap ko ang tunay na pamilya ko. Hindi na ako ang dating Sakuragi na puro yabang lang. Salamat, Shohoku.” ang basketball
“Hindi laro lang ito. Ito ang magsasabi kung sino tayo bilang magkakapatid sa loob ng court.”
The crowd goes silent. Coach Anzai calls a timeout. The team gathers around Sakuragi, who is gritting his teeth. In a rare serious moment, Akagi says: “Kung hindi mo kaya, huwag mong pilitin.”