The Warriors are warming up when Managaytay approaches Mark with Justin in front of him in a line.
“I see you have a backup,” says Managaytay while looking at Kevin who is ahead of the line.
Mark looks at Kevin and to him, “Yeah, we do. He’s gonna give you a hard time, don’t you think.”
Managaytay gives a hearty yet deep-voiced laugh.
“Him? Giving me a hard time? Or should I say I will give him a hard time? I can’t let the opportunity pass by; this is my last year in junior high school, I will not disappoint my campus.”
“Me too. I don’t want to disappoint my campus either.”
“We’re competitors, this is what we are,” Managaytay sighs. “May the best team win.”
Managaytay gives out a clenched fist ready for an explosion. Mark smiles and detonates it with his fist.
“I hope for you the best, not only in basketball but life also.”
“You also, Mercado. Whatever happens, let’s stay friends.”
Mark smiles, “Will do.”
Cesar approaches Villanueva and says to him, “How are you, Villanueva?”
Villanueva turns to him and says, “Ey, what’s up, Cesar Owens? I’m good, man. Nothing to worry. I see you have another star in your team.”
Cesar turns to see Kevin then back to Villanueva, “Yeah, he’s young but he can give you trouble offensively and defensively.”
“Can’t wait to see it.”
“He’s a surprise that you should see.”
The game is about to start. Coach Perez gathers his players after they warm up and then they form a circle. They then kneel afterwards including Coach Perez
“Team leader,” says Coach Perez. “Lead the prayer.”
“Yes, coach,” replies Cesar. “Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the game you’ve given us today, the opportunity to showcase our skills. May this game show that you alone give the victory, Lord. We believe that you alone will give us victory, Lord. Lord, give us grace to have victory and strength for this game. In Jesus’ name…”
“Amen,” the Warriors team replies.
The Warriors lineup is Number 1, Justin Banderas at Point Guard; Number 30, Mark Mercado at Shooting Guard; Number 24, Cesar Owens at Small Forward; Number 35, Kevin Rebias at Power Forward; and Number 40, Jerwin Caballero at Center.
The game is set and the pieces are in the position. The ref tosses the ball for the centers, Kevin and Managaytay.
Managaytay gets the upper hand and tips the ball on the Pitbulls.
Maaravi Warriors 0-0 Charlemagne Pitbulls
1st Quarter
10:00
‘You be the center for now, Rebias,” thinks Coach Perez. ‘We need you to hinder Managaytay, I know you can.’
Number 40, Cabaluna, who is their starting Point Guard, handles the ball
The Pitbulls jog to their positions as Cabaluna calls out a play.
Cabaluna passes the ball to Marquez, their shooting guard, then cuts around Manalo’s screen, their power forward. Justin follows Cabaluna, his man, around the screen as the latter receives a dime from Marquez. Cabaluna lays the ball up but then Justin jumps for it and swats it, bouncing to the board and into the hands of Caballero.
Cesar bolts ahead of the fastbreak by the sidelines. Caballero baseball passes the orb to him and Cesar catches it. With no defender in sight, Cesar jumps and soars high.
‘I can’t fall for your tricks, Managaytay,’ Cesar thinks.
And there, the giant, Managaytay soars high with his arm over Cesar. So Cesar passes, in mid-air, the orb to Mark who is at the corner and he shoots the trey.
A bucket of chicken nuggets! A score!
Maaravi Warriors 3-0 Charlemagne Pitbulls
1st Quarter
9:44
It’s Pitbulls ball and Managaytay recommends to his teammate Manalo to switch places in the play.
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And there, with the ball in hand, Managaytay bodies Kevin down the block and then fadeaways. Kevin adroitly closes in on his man as he anticipates a fadeaway and he attempts to block it.
The rock leaves Managaytay’s hands and into the hand of Kevin.
‘I can’t let them down,’ Managaytay thinks. ‘This is my last year of this tournament, I can’t let my team down.’
Fadeaway after fadeaway, Managaytay is always getting blocked.
‘This kid is persistent. Better slam it home to send a message,’ thinks Managaytay.
Maaravi Warriors 33-26 Charlemagne Pitbulls
1st Quarter
5:43
Pitbulls timeouts.
The Warriors huddle around their coach while the on-court players sit on the chairs for instructions.
“Amazing defense, Rebias. We finally got the antidote for Managaytay. Keep him defended at all times and don’t switch from him.
“Nice shooting, Mercado. We need daggers beyond the three-point line.
“Good job being aggressive, Owens. They can’t keep up with you, maintain that.”
The game resumes and Managaytay is again at the low block posting up Kevin.
Managaytay bodies Kevin once again and instead of fading away, he charges to the basket and goes for a slam. With his arms stretched up with the ball, he makes an example of his archnemesis.
Kevin stretches his hand high and holds the ball high in place in mid-air.
‘WHAT!!?’ Managaytay thinks. ‘How is this kid this strong?’
Kevin grabs the rebound and passes a long way to Cesar who again slams it home with an uncontested slam.
Maaravi Warriors 35-26 Charlemagne Pitbulls
1st Quarter
5:24
Managaytay stares at Kevin, “Boy, you’re a post.”
Kevin laughs, “Thank you, big guy. I hit the gym five times a week. I may not look like it but I lift metals.”
Managaytay is dumbfounded.
Kevin looks at Managaytay straight to his eyes with a smile, “I can do this all day, big guy.”
Maaravi Warriors 60-55 Charlemagne Pitbulls
1st Quarter
0:30
Cesar gets a steal and leads the fast break ahead. Cesar soars high and puts up a windmill poster.
Bam! A two-handed Jam!
Maaravi Warriors 62-55 Charlemagne Pitbulls
1st Quarter
0:25
It’s Pitbulls ball and Managaytay again is posting up Kevin.
‘I can’t shoot or do anything with this man up my caboose,’ Managaytay thinks.
Marquez loses Suarez as he cuts to the paint and gets a dime from Managaytay. Marquez shoots and scores.
Maaravi Warriors 62-57 Charlemagne Pitbulls
1st Quarter
0:08
Cesar gets the ball from inbound and sprints to the wing then suddenly halts dribbling the ball between the legs outside in. But Marquez, who is the wing defender of their 2-3 zone, catches up and never relents from him. So Cesar goes to the side then proceeds to drive, and Marquez anticipates this and prepares himself for the charge. But it’s all a ruse as Cesar stepbacks and shoots a trey.
The ball descends with grace AND PUTS THE ENEMIES TO DISGRACE! BUCKEEETSS!
Maaravi Warriors 65-57 Charlemagne Pitbulls
End of 1st Quarter
0:00
The players go to their bench and coach.
The Pitbulls coach sighs, “Managaytay, I don’t want you to shoot for now. Pass it to whoever is available. Pass it to Villanueva or Marquez, or you can pass it to Cabaluna when he cuts to the paint. You have a strong defender, don’t feed him anymore rebounds.”
Managaytay nods.
The game resumes and it’s Warriors ball.
Justin handles the ball and calls out a play.
Justin goes to the right while Mark is going to the corner ahead of him. With a screen from Cesar in the block, the low block and corner defender leaves Mark open. Mark receives a pass and shoots the trey.
Ball don’t lie, he’s a cook and he fries.
Maaravi Warriors 68-57 Charlemagne Pitbulls
2nd Quarter
9:51
'How are they shooting this good?', thinks Managaytay.
Again and again and again, Mark sinks the threes, and Justin and Cesar shoot midrange and drive. While they're at it, Kevin also contributes defensively with some blocks from the drivers of the paint. Kevin also contributes with post dunks and midrange shots, even fadeaways when he's matched up with Manalo, the power forward.
Maaravi Warriors 89-86 Charlemagne Pitbulls
2nd Quarter
0:58
It's Pitbulls ball.
Managaytay has the ball in the post while bodying Kevin.
'I can't shoot with this kid around," Managaytay thinks.
Once again, Marquez loses his man in a cut towards the paint. Managaytay dimes it to him and he shoots. It bounces from the board to the rim and out.
Managaytay hustles to get the ball and grabs it. He passes the rock towards Cabaluna, their point guard, as the shot clock restarts.
Cabaluna passes the ball to Marquez and then he cuts around Manalo who sets up a screen. Aguas, who's subbed in for Justin, can't keep up especially while being screened. Marquez dimes it to Cabaluna who lays it up. But while he's in mid-air, he sees peripherally a stick man hand over him. So, he passes the ball mid-air to Managaytay.
Managaytay charges ahead and slams it in the face of Kevin.
Maaravi Warriors 89-88 Charlemagne Pitbulls
2nd Quarter
0:31
Kevin just smiles, "Nice dunk. I'll do that to you in the next possession."
Managaytay just smirks as he jogs away.
Kevin tells Berjame, their bench center now power forward, to switch in this play.
"Got it, young man," replies Berjame.
So, Aguas crosses the half-court as he handles the ball.
Following the same play, Aguas goes to the right wing while Suarez goes to the corner. Aguas then passes the orb to Suarez. Manalo rushes to guard the corner yet it's a ruse for him to come over there. Cesar screens Managaytay for Kevin who is cutting towards the rim. Suarez dimes it to Kevin and he schemes to slam it home. Managaytay adroitly goes around the screen and tries to contest the shot.
But it's fruitless as Kevin jams it home like a sweet mango jam. IN THE FACE OF MANAGAYTAYYYYY!!
Maaravi Warriors 91-88 Charlemagne Pitbulls
2nd Quarter
0:19
With seven seconds on the clock, Villanueva receives the rock in the top three-point line. He pump fakes Cesar but he doesn't bite it. He dribbles right then behind-the-backs to the left and then stepback shoots. But Cesar is ever so agile and he catches up to contest. The ball leaves his hand and descends for an airball.
The buzzer beats for the conclusion of the second quarter.
Maaravi Warriors 91-88 Charlemagne Pitbulls
End of 2nd Quarter
0:00