Slam Dunk has always resonated deeply with Filipino culture since it aired locally. The original anime, which boasts 101 episodes, aired in local dub and helped popularize basketball in Japan. In the Philippines, it received immense popularity due to the love of basketball in the country and the endearing localization in the dub.
The story of Slam Dunk follows Hanamichi Sakuragi, a delinquent who is unlucky in love. His world changes when he falls for Haruko Akagi, a sweet girl who loves basketball, is the sister of the basketball team’s captain – and has eyes only for Rukawa. This infatuation soon sends Sakuragi on a quest to become a basketball player – a piece in Captain Akagi’s dream to go to the nationals.
With its dramatic and comedy story beats, there are many memorable moments to choose from in the series. Here’s some of them!
When Miyagi and Sakuragi Bonded Over Being Losers in Love
Sakuragi isn’t the only guy in the Shohoku Basketball Team who has been quite unlucky in love! Sakuragi had a track record of being rejected by girls fifty times, since he was in middle school, despite being a delinquent. Well, it turns out that his teammate has been even worse: rejected by girls, and currently, although he has feelings for Ayako, Ayako hasn’t formally answered or entertained him.
What’s great about the parallelisms between Sakuragi and Haruko, as well as with Ayako and Miyagi, is that their admiration is mutual and respectful.
The two guys originally don’t get along when they first meet at basketball practice but after practice, they bond over their romantic rejections and even think that the other is the unluckier of the two. Both of them even think, “At least I have Haruko/Ayako.”
“It Slipped”
In Chapter 20 of the manga and in one of the early parts of the anime, Sakuragi and Rukawa practice their basic basketball skills for lay ups. The dynamic between the two teenagers has never been quite an easy one; Rukawa is standoffish and quiet and doesn’t like passing the ball to others when playing basketball while Sakuragi is hot-headed and also wants to steal the spotlight while playing.
When Rukawa tries demonstrating how to do a layup, Sakuragi kept throwing him balls and using his excuse as “It slipped.” Of course, Rukawa also retaliates by throwing a ball at him and replying that his hand “slipped.”
This culminates in Sakuragi getting angry at him and dumping balls at him, that his body “slipped,” and this makes Akagi so angry at both of them.
The First Five Had A Study Sleepover
The First Five of the Shohoku Basketball Team certainly are characters! However, when on the court together, their capabilities help enhance the team’s run-and-gun basketball playing style.
For the Center and team captain, Takenori Akagi was a powerful presence on the basketball court and he was the most rational one although he was quite stubborn when it came to basketball at the expense of his own health. Off court, he was a good student.
Their Point Guard, Miyagi, was fast and made quite good plays, while the Shooting Guard was Hisashi Mitsui, who had been a delinquent for the past two years following such promise as a basketball player and had been named the MVP in middle school. His strengths were his three-pointers and experience.
The rookies, Sakuragi and Rukawa, were both powerful on the court. Aside from Akagi, most of the First Five had come from delinquent backgrounds and sadly, were not the most deft when it came to their academics.
However, the team could not attend or compete in the Inter High and a basketball camp, without their First Five, the four delinquents having failed their exams. The four players spent the night studying at their captain’s house, and it went with a few scrapes such as Sakuragi pranking Akagi by drawing on his face.
When Sakuragi Shaved His Head
The Kainan match was a different kind of animal to deal with for the team. Its arc sparked renewal in Sakuragi, especially since the match would turn out to be one of the toughest and most emotionally and technically challenging ones the Shohoku team had to deal with.
Victory had almost been in the hands of the Shohoku Basketball Team. However, it was at the hands of Sakuragi that a scrape ensued, and he passed the ball to the wrong player. As a result, Sakuragi moped and cried about it and then shaved his head. The next day, people laughed at his head, but to Sakuragi, it was a sign of his renewal to become a better basketball player.
The Summer Special Arc
And lastly? The summer special was pretty funny – as it featured Sakuragi’s friends getting into a bunch of hijinks! They try to play pachinko – something close to the Philippines’ own tongits – but end up working instead for the summer.
The whole arc has plenty of cute moments from the gang that are pretty wholesome, with Sakuragi and Haruko taking care of kids in the festival and Sakuragi becoming much better at shooting.
Wrapping Up
Slam Dunk will always be one of the best and classic anime Filipinos will come back to, with its blend of slapstick – and the themes of grit and perseverance! Its moments cement it so.
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