The first quarter ends and the Maaravi Warriors players huddle around their coach.
Coach Perez nods his head and says to Mark, “Nice block, way to close the quarter.”
“Thanks, Coach,” Mark replies. “I have to contribute defensively too.”
“Good. It seems Owens taught you a lot. Keep developing, you could be our next starting five. Everyone in the starting five, except for Owens, are graduating junior high school. They will find schools with senior high. It’s safe to tell you that you and Banderas are a perfect fit for the starting line.”
“Wow, I’m excited for the prospect. I’ll develop my skills, coach, and contribute more to the team.”
“What about me, coach?” says one player. "I’m at the same year level as Cesar, Justin, and Mark. Could I be in the starting lineup?”
“You’ll be our sixth man. Although you’re only on the bench for now, I will prove you valuable soon. For now, just watch them play,” Coach Perez says to the player.
Maaravi Warriors 34:30 Charlemagne Pitbulls
10:00
Start of 2nd Quarter
The lineup of the Maaravi Warriors would be: number 2, Michael Gomez at point guard; number 30, Mark Mercado at shooting guard; number 24, Cesar Owens at small forward; number 40, Jerwin Caballero at power forward; and number 15, Edward Fajardo at center.
Charlemagne inbounds the ball with their power forward passing it to Cabaluna, Mendoza’s substitute for point guard. The both of them jog across the court.
In their half of the court, Cabaluna uses the screens from the big men, the power forward and Managaytay. Managaytay cuts across the paint using the screens from their shooting guard and Villanueva. With Managaytay open, Cabaluna passes the ball to him with swiftness. Managaytay attacks the rim, but Fajardo is quick at his feet against all the screens to be face-to-face with the giant.
Managaytay post ups Fajardo and bodies him. A second time around, Mangaytay bodies him and Fajardo gives way resulting in Managaytay being out of balance and Fajardo scoops the ball away from Managaytay.
Fajardo passes the ball to Cesar and then to Mark, who is further ahead, and he lays it up and in.
Maaravi Warriors 36:30 Charlemagne Pitbulls
9:43
2nd Quarter
“Manalo!” Cabaluna shouted to the power forward. “Inbound the ball! I’ll pass it to you after you screen for Villanueva.”
“Understood,” Manalo the power forward replies
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Manalo inbounds the ball to Cabaluna. The both of them jog again across the court.
Cabaluna crossovers Gomez and uses again the screens of the big men along the three-point line and then Managaytay uses the screens of their shooting guard and Villanueva across the paint. But Cabaluna didn’t pass the ball to Managaytay. After Manalo screens for Villanueva who is going to the top of the key, Manalo cuts to the rim and receives a pass from Cabaluna. As Manalo lays the ball up he sees Fajardo from the side with a jump so high and his arm overshadowing him, so he passes the ball, while in the air, to Managaytay on the wing. Managaytay shoots the ball and gets it in.
Maaravi Warriors 36:32 Charlemagne Pitbulls
9:25
2nd Quarter
The game is back and forth with some turnovers and denials until Mark is subbed out.
Maaravi Warriors 50:48 Charlemagne Pitbulls
6:22
2nd Quarter
Coach Perez speaks to Mark, “Mercado, I want you for next quarter and the latter half of the fourth because things are about to get spicy.”
“Yes, coach. Understood,” Mark replied.
So Mark sits down on his bench and cheers the team on. At the stroke of luck, he sees Samantha, with Ruth and her friends, beside her.
‘Hmm, that’s strange. Why do I still feel something for Samantha? She doesn’t even like me that way. Plus, she’s just my friend. A friend so close but so far away.’
Samantha finds him and looks at him, then she waves.
Ruth also waves at him and says, “Go, Mercado!!”
Mark waves and returns them a smile.
As the game starts, Mark spectates. Mortars are being fired long-range, grenades are being tossed aloft underhanded, couriers are being intercepted, and planes are being shot down from the sky. This is the normalcy in this endeavor. No one is safe in love and war.
‘Maybe, I have a chance with Samantha. Cesar told me that. You have a chance with her, Mark.’
Mark then looks back at Samantha and says to himself, ‘I will have her, Deus Vult.’
Maaravi Warriors 73:73 Charlemagne Pitbulls
5:15
3rd Quarter
Coach Perez subs Mark into the fray. He gestures Mark and Justin over to him and says to them something. I can’t hear ‘em because they are whispering to each other.
But nonetheless, the game starts. On the floor are Canillo at Center; Manalo at Power Forward; Owens at Small Forward; Mercado at Shooting Guard; and Banderas at Point Guard.
Team Maaravi inbounds the ball and Justin handles it. At their side of the court, their opponent employs again a 2-3 zone defense. Manalo positions himself at the free throw line but Justin passes the ball to Mark. With the defender nearest to him a distance away, Mark shoots a long three.
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The complex is in an uproar.
“I LOVE YOU VERY MANY, MERCADO!!!”
“CHEF MARK! CHEF MARK! CHEF MARK!”
Justin jumps in elation while they jog back to defense. Justin and their teammates high-fives Mark while Mark just smiles and chuckles.
‘Born in training, this long three I’m shooting.’
Maaravi Warriors 76:73 Charlemagne Pitbulls
5:07
3rd Quarter
Cabaluna handles the ball with Justin guarding him, he passes the ball to their shooting guard. Cesar is far away across the wing so he couldn’t help the defense especially since the player he’s guarding goes to the corner. Cabaluna screens for Manalo and then Manalo screens for their shooting guard. Their shooting guard uses the screen against his guard, Mark. Going to the free throw line, he motions to shoot.
“Shoot, Marquez!” Cabaluna shouts.
Mark sees this and jumps when Marquez is about to shoot. As Mark jumps, Marquez didn’t shoot, he pumpfaked Mark. When Mark passes Marquez by, Marquez shoots the ball. The ball bounces on the rim and out.
Fajardo rebounds the ball and passes it to Cesar who dribbles the ball with an even pace. He then passes the ball to Justin.
Justin handles the ball as he does a crossover against his defender and penetrates the defense. As he penetrates the defense, he does a pullup jumper. Then suddenly Managaytay appears out of nowhere and blocks the shot. Mark catches the rejected ball and shoots a three.
Score!
Justin jumps again in elation and high-fives Mark.
The crowd goes crazy as their shouts would bring the house down.
“CHEF MAAAARK!”
“I LOVE YOU, MERCADO!!”
Maaravi Warriors 79:73 Charlemagne Pitbulls
4:43
3rd Quarter
Charlemagne timeouts.