The Warriors who were playing the previous quarter now sit on the bench while others stand to give them seats while huddling around their coach.
“Now that’s what I want to see,” says Coach Perez. “Great denial, Rebias. You made them hesitant to drive and get to the basket, we need that; great job big fella.”
“Thank you, coach,” says Kevin.
“Mercado, that’s what I want from you. Keep matching your man’s energy of shooting a barrage of threes.”
“Thank you, coach,” says Mark.
“Now, Velazquez will be subbed in at six minutes on the clock in this second half as always. But I will send the regular lineup at seven.”
“Coach,” says Mark.
Coach Perez looks at him, “What is it, Mercado?”
“Can I play at eight minutes on the clock?”
Coach Perez deliberates for a moment on his own and then says, “Sure thing, Mercado. You’ll play at eight minutes.”
“Me too, coach,” says Justin. “I want to play at eight minutes.”
“You too, huh? Hmm. I want you at seven Banderas.”
“Come on, coach. Why not?”
“Because you’re gonna handle the ball. We can’t risk you getting tired early; I want you to play until the buzzer beats.”
“But…”
“Do as I say, Banderas.”
“Yes, coach.”
“Don’t worry Justin. You’ll have more minutes… on the bench,” whispers Kevin to Justin and silently laughs.
Justin elbows Kevin, “Shut uup.”
The game begins and Cesar is the only player that didn’t get a substitution.
“Do your best, ma〜aan,” says Justin to Cesar.
“You got it, my g,” replies Cesar.
“Woah,” says Kevin. “That was cool.”
“You got that right. We’re bros for life. He the ace and we the backups. We finna be W in this crib.”
Kevin just looks at him and at Mark who is beside Justin.
Mark smiles and says, “He says we’re gonna win this game.”
“Oh. Great,” says Kevin.
Maaravi Warriors 103:104 VCF Lions
7:39
3rd Quarter
Mark gets into the game when Coach Perez holds back by the shoulder.
“Give them hell, Mercado.”
Mark smiles at him and says, “Yes, coach.”
On the Warriors lineup are: Number 24, Cesar Owens as point guard; number 00, Kyle Aguas as shooting guard; number 30, Mark Mercado as small forward; number 21, Fred Berjame as power forward; and number 34, Daniel Botanas as center.
It’s Lions ball.
Benigay handles the ball to their half of the court and Lerio, their power forward, goes to the top by the right of it.
“Remember, Lerio. Stab because you can,” says Benigay.
Benigay passes the ball to Lerio while he screens for their center. Their center uses the screen and receives a pass from Lerio as he is open. Botanas catches up to him and tries to contest the hook shot, but the ball is long gone in the center’s hand and it scores. But the whistle sounds.
Foul from Botanas.
Botanas shakes his head and tells the ref, “Where’s the foul in that?”
“You can foullow me if you want to look for it,” the ref replies.
Botanas laughs and he forgets the transgression of the referee.
The referee passes the ball to Harmon, the center, for the free throw. Harmon dribbles some and shoots; it’s a bucket.
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Maaravi Warriors 103:107 VCF Lions
7:39
3rd Quarter
Owens babysits the ball and crosses half-court.
Berjame cuts from the left wing to the right elbow while Botanas cuts from the left block to the right block. Owens dribbles left as they cut and he attacks the rim with an open lane for a layup.
Maaravi Warriors 105:107 VCF Lions
7:30
3rd Quarter
Owens maintains a cohesive offense for the team for a few minutes, especially when the star-filled lineup is again on the court. Mark rains on threes, Justin and Cesar drive and shoot mid-range, and Kevin dominates in the post while shooting mid-range. But all that without stopping the mighty intercontinental ballistic missiles of Velazquez.
Maaravi Warriors 124:130 VCF Lions
3:19
3rd Quarter
Maaravi timeouts.
Coach Perez sighs and shakes his head, “We can’t stop this guy, Velazquez. Every time we would score, he would pay it back with more. There’s one thing we could do.” Coach Perez points towards Cesar, “Owens, you guard Velazquez. Stop him before he could get away with his threes.”
Cesar nods his head, “Yes, Coach.”
“Good.”
Cesar hesitates to speak but blurts it out, “But coach, who’s gonna handle the ball.”
Coach Perez looks at Justin, “You handle the ball, Banderas. I know you’re capable of what Cesar can do. Heck, you play like him. I know you’re good with the ball as Cesar does, so you’ll handle it. Got it?”
“Yes, coach,” says Justin. “I’ll handle the ball.”
As the game is about to begin, Cesar says to Mark, “When you receive the ball in the corner in this play, watch out for me when Caballero gives me a screen and I pop out to the top. I can shoot threes so that I can help you rain them.”
“I will, master,” replies Mark.
Justin handles the ball across half-court with poise in the midst of pressure.
Kevin cuts from the left wing to the elbow while Caballero cuts from the left block to the right block. Justin dribbles to the left while they do this and drives straight to the basket. His defender cannot keep up with his speed and he easily lays the ball up.
Maaravi Warriors 124:130 VCF Lions
3:19
3rd Quarter
Ortega dribbles the ball to the wing while using Harmon’s screen. Their small forward uses a screen from Velazquez in the paint who then cuts straight to the top with the elevator, consisting of Lerio and Harmon, closing in behind him. Cesar goes around them adroitly and with quickness when Velazquez receives the ball. Cesar catches up to him and he contests the shot with a tremendous jump.
‘Oh, please miss,’ Cesar thinks.
But Velazquez doesn’t shoot, he just gives a dribble and sidesteps away from Cesar who passes by him.
‘Oh, you slippery snake.’
And now he shoots and he never misses.
Maaravi Warriors 124:133 VCF Lions
3:07
3rd Quarter
Justin handles the ball across the half-court and calls out another play.
‘It’s now or never,’ Mark thinks. ‘I’m gonna give it my all.’
Justin dribbles the ball to the wing where Mark is and hands the ball off to him. With the big men setting screens for him, Mark uses them and pulls a step-back jumper for a three. The ball hits the rim and in.
Maaravi Warriors 127:133 VCF Lions
2:57
3rd Quarter
Cesar calls Jerwin and says to him, “Hedge for me when they do that elevator action.”
“Got it,” Caballero replies.
So Ortega dribbles the ball to the wing while using Harmon’s screen. Velazquez gives a screen for their small forward and then sprints to the top where the elevator is shut behind him. Velazquez receives a ball and Caballero hedges for Cesar, that is, defending Velazquez until Cesar recovers to defend him. As Cesar is about to recover and defend him, Harmon cuts towards the rim and Cesar waits for this moment. Velazquez passes the ball to Harmon who prepares to hop up. Cesar catches up to him while he pump fakes, but Cesar doesn’t take the bait. Nevertheless, Harmon hops high to shoot it and Cesar hops higher. Harmon shoots it but it’s stuck in his hands as the hand of Cesar sticks to it. Harmon loses the ball and Cesar gets the rebound.
Cesar passes the ball ahead to Mark who passes it to Justin who is further ahead. Justin drives but Harmon is gaining ground towards him. So he passes the ball to Mark who moves off-ball to gain a favorable position, specifically to the right wing. Mark shoots and scores.
Maaravi Warriors 130:133 VCF Lions
2:35
3rd Quarter
The Lions timeouts.
The Warriors lineup sits on the bench while others huddle around their coach.
“Great defense, Owens; great shooting, Mercado; great dime, Banderas. Now, I want you to keep it up throughout the game. We need those. Never give back down, never what!?”
“NEVER GIVE UP!!” the team replies.
Cesar provides great defense for Velazquez even though sometimes his shots go in, but he’s keeping Velazquez busy and making him exert more energy. Mark delivers his packages more often now with his threes. The crowd is now growing anxious.
Maaravi Warriors 138:139 VCF Lions
0:32
3rd Quarter
Cesar gets another steal from Velazquez with his tight defense and leads the fastbreak. He passes the ball to Mark by the corner and the only defender leaves the paint to defend him from shooting a three. Mark anticipates this and gives a lob to Cesar.
Cesar catches it and slams it like a gavel to a block with a two-handed action.
“Powwaaaahhhhh,” shouts Cesar after landing on the ground.
Maaravi Warriors 140:139 VCF Lions
0:25
3rd Quarter
‘Yes, we finally got a lead,’ thinks Mark.
The pace of the Lions is now quick as they form up their play.
Ortega dribbles to the wing, handoffs the ball to Velazquez, and gives him a screen. Velazquez passes the ball to Harmon at the opposite wing then uses Lerio’s screen and goes to the corner. Harmon tries to pass it to him but Cesar keeps a tight defense in the passing lane.
Leaving no choice, Harmon passes the ball to their small forward while he goes to the block for a post-up.
0:12
Harmon receives a ball for a post up he bodies Caballero to the paint and then fades away. He scores.
Maaravi Warriors 140:141 VCF Lions
0:06
3rd Quarter
Coach Perez shouts instructions to them on their next play. Caballero is at the other side in the paint while Mark and Cesar are by the half-court line on the side where the inbound is. Justin is near to Kevin who is inbounding the ball.
“DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!”
The referee gives the ball to Kevin and then Caballero cuts to the logo while Cesar and Mark go to the sides of the court towards the ball and then sprints to their half-court basket side. Kevin passes the ball to Caballero and then to Mark who shoots a three. The ball banks to the board, rolls around the rim… and in.
Maaravi Warriors 143:141 VCF Lions
0:00
End of 3rd Quarter