Chapter 22: The Preseason Showdown! When Sweat Meets Destiny! Part 5 : Semi Finals and things just started to get interesting.

We gather in the locker room, the air thick with anticipation. Coach David's voice is calm and authoritative as he advises us to rest and focus. "Let's conserve our energy for the game. We don't want to waste any unnecessary movements outside.”

We huddle together, discussing our strategy against UMS. "Alright, let's set up our lineup," Coach David says, his eyes scanning the room. "Point guard - Jackson; shooting guard - Adam; Centre - Fredickson; Long Man - Forward; Thiru - Forward.”

We nod in agreement, knowing that UMS has a deep bench and a complex dynamic. "They'll definitely play Tyrone," we agree, our voices filled with determination. Tyrone's reputation precedes him – a fierce competitor with a knack for taking charge.

I close my eyes, focusing on my energy. Despite the intensity of the previous game, I feel surprisingly fresh – like I've got reserves of energy waiting to be tapped. Frankie, Thiru, Devinson, and Jackson are all looking sharp, their eyes burning with competitiveness. The new players – Subramaniam, Adam, Wong, and James – are impressing us with their poise and skill.

Peter and Mikhail, our injured senior players, offer words of wisdom from the sidelines. Peter's voice is laced with conviction as he explains, "Tyrone and Gordon don't mesh well together. Tyrone's always taking the lead, and now that he's captain, he'll be even more aggressive.”

Coach David nods, his expression confident. "Just stick to the formation we've practiced. I believe Tyrone will be the key player, and we'll need to be on our toes to keep up with him.”

The minutes tick by swiftly, and before we know it, we're walking onto the court. The stands are packed, the atmosphere electric. It's like the entire school is here to watch us take on UMS. The crowd's buzzing with excitement, and I can feel the energy coursing through my veins. This is it – the semi-finals are about to begin. The lights, the noise, the anticipation – everything is heightened, and I'm ready to give it my all.

We huddle up, Coach David's voice filled with conviction. "One thing I believe is the difference between us and them is chemistry. Since you've guys been together so long, let's get the game going and good luck…"

We respond in unison, a loud "OOOOOOO!!!!" echoing through the locker room.

As we take to the court, the commentator's voice rings out: "Looks like Daggers' bench is a bunch of aces, and the seniors aren't getting on the starting lineup...!! Looks like Rafflesia's going with the same strategy!!!”

I glance over at the UMS bench, spotting Gordon on the starting lineup. But what's interesting is Tyrone, standing tall on the sidelines, looking like a coach overseeing the game before he even steps in.

The current UMS team is the one our reserves usually take down with ease. I turn to Coach David and say, "Coach, just let me on in the last half of the game or if we're already 50 points behind..."

Coach David nods, a knowing glint in his eye. "Yep, that's the plan. I know Tyrone's coming in if you do... Let's play that game against them.”

The game tips off, and Fredrickson's towering presence dominates the court, overpowering Gordon and the rest of the UMS team. I signal to my teammates to keep a cool head and maintain a slow pace.

Fredrickson passes to Jackson, who then passes to Adam. Adam takes the shot, and it goes in. The scoreboard lights up: "2:0!!!! Daggers ball!!" A good start.

Gordon seems less aggressive than before, instead focusing on passing to his teammates. One of them takes a shot, but it's a weak attempt that bounces right back.

Long Man shouts "Rebound!!!" and Thiru swoops in, easily taking the ball and passing it to Fredrickson. Fredrickson, with a smooth layup, scores again. The crowd goes wild as the scoreboard flashes: "4:0!!!! Daggers ball!!!" The energy in the stadium is electric, and we're off to a strong start.

Gordon passes the ball to his teammate, and they take a shot. I observe them, and they look like they're running on fumes – I'm surprised they managed to beat Wild Cats and draw against Saturn. Most of the rebounds are ours, and we're dominating the game.

That is, until Tyrone starts instructing Gordon, and he changes the pace. One of their players takes a shot, and it goes in – 3 points in the bag. The scoreboard flips to "4:3!!!! Rafflesia ball!!!" The commentator's voice rings out: "They have a shooter!!! It's not just their captain!!”

That's when I realize something – despite having similar body sizes to our team, they're really good at shooting. Adam gets the ball but is blocked by Gordon, and he passes it to a teammate, shouting "Silva!!!!" Silva looks like a local Sabahan, but he's taller than I expected. I know what's going on and shout to Thiru, "Change formation!!!”

Coach David asks me what's happening, and I tell him, "I saw this before in my previous school!!" Silva takes the shot beautifully, and it goes in. The scoreboard flips to "4:5!!!!! Rafflesia ball!!!!" I know something's off, but we manage to recover quickly. Thiru takes the charge and passes to Fredrickson, who dunks it. The scoreboard flips to "6:5!!!!! Daggers ball!!!”

The game's intense, and the score is neck-and-neck. By the 5-minute mark, it's already 22:21 – they're not behind on the scoreboard. Adam's struggling with the taller players, so he passes to Jackson, who then passes to Long Man. Long Man lays it up, and it goes in. The scoreboard flips to "24:21!!!!! Daggers ball!!!”

Someone calls a timeout and changes the players. Except for Gordon and Silva, the rest of the team is new. I realize that's what we lack – that deep bench. But we're going to make it up with experience and chemistry.

Gordon and Silva form a deadly duo, making passes and instantly changing the momentum. They get in on the scoresheet, and the scoreboard flips to "24:23!!!! Rafflesia ball!!" Tyrone's gaze meets mine, and he smiles – I know he's playing the waiting game, testing our team members. This feels like a war of attrition.

The game intensifies, and by the 10-minute mark, the score is neck-and-neck: 45:42. Coach David makes a strategic move, changing our team members. The new lineup is:

Point guard - Devinson

Centre - Subramaniam

Shooting guard - Adam

Long man - Forward

James - Forward

As we head back onto the court, I notice that UMS has made changes too. Gordon and Silva are now on the bench, replaced by new faces. The game's heating up, and every move counts. The crowd's on the edge of their seats, sensing the shift in momentum.

What’s the UMS coach thinking? Are they trying to catch us off guard? The tension is palpable as we face off against their new lineup.

The game's intense, with both teams fighting for every point. Our team's on fire, scoring again and again, but UMS is closing the gap. The scoreboard flips to 56:48, then 58:55 – they're getting close again. Their deep bench is impressive, and Tyrone's strategic moves are getting me excited.

But I know I need to keep our players fresh. Coach David leans in and whispers, "They're waiting for you... That's why. Looks like that's what the Wild Cats coach warned me about – they know you're a massive threat.”

I signal to Coach David, and he nods in agreement. I ask him to make a substitution, and he calls out for Long Man to switch with me. The move catches UMS off guard, but Tyrone's expression remains calm and focused – he's not falling for the trap.

Once I'm in, I dive into the game, and the intensity picks up. By the 2nd half, the score is 100:75. I can see Tyrone warming up, preparing to enter the game along with Gordon and Silva.

During the half break, Coach David sets the team lineup:

Centre - Frankie

Shooting guard - me

Point guard - Devinson

Forward - Thiru

James - forward

When Tyrone starts as centre against Frankie, I'm surprised – they're about the same size. This is going to be an interesting matchup. What's Tyrone's strategy? Is he going to try to outmaneuver Frankie? The game's heating up, and I'm ready to take on the challenge.

The whistle blows, and both teams jump into action. Tyrone and Frankie clash, their bodies locked in a fierce struggle for dominance. Tyrone emerges stronger, passing the ball to Silva, who then passes it to Gordon. Gordon dribbles past Devinson, physically overpowering him, but his demeanor is calm and calculated – a far cry from his usual aggressive self.

This is a proper game, I think to myself, impressed by UMS's skill and strategy. Gordon makes a fake pass to Tyrone, but I block it. However, Tyrone's quick thinking allows him to instantly pass to Silva, who finds himself surrounded by Frankie and Thiru. Undeterred, Silva takes the shot again, and it goes in. The scoreboard flips to "100:77!!!! UMS ball!!!" The crowd erupts in cheers.

The commentator's voice rings out, "That is something….!!!!" Latifah's getting hyped, transforming into a cheerleader and cheering on Tyrone's team with infectious enthusiasm. Her sexy outfit is a distraction, but Mariam's not having any of it – she's competing with Latifah in the podium, cheering with equal fervor.

The guys are distracted by the cheerleaders, including our players and their opponents. Tyrone takes advantage of the momentary lapse in focus, knocking down his opponents with ease. I do the same, nudging my teammates to refocus. Our eyes meet, and we share a smile.

Tyrone grins at me and says, "Looks like they're having the time of their life, eh homie…?" I chuckle and reply, "Yeah, that's right…" The game is heating up, and the tension between us is palpable.

The game's intense, but the real show is unfolding in the stands. Mariam suddenly pulls Sylvia into a cheer, and her boobs jiggle wildly – it's like a scene from a fan service anime. What the heck is Mariam trying to pull?!

Latifah's not about to be outdone, and she starts showing even more skin. I'm surprised Tyrone's facepalming himself – this is getting ridiculous. The girls are stealing the show, and we're just trying to keep up.

The crowd's going wild, but it's not just about the game anymore. The cheerleaders are bringing the heat, and the guys are eating it up. I'm trying to stay focused on the game, but it's hard when the sidelines are getting more attention than the court.

Tyrone glances over at me, and we share a look of exasperation. This is insane – we're in the middle of a high-stakes match, and the girls are turning it into a spectacle. I shake my head, chuckling.

The game's heating up, but Mariam's stunt snaps me back to reality – this is just a game. I start playing with a renewed sense of fun, passing the ball to Devinson and telling him to take the shot. He's surprised but takes aim. Meanwhile, Sadie from the cheering team jumps up, cheering him on with infectious enthusiasm.

I know Devinson's distracted, and he takes the shot – but it's a miss. What catches me off guard is Thiru's attempt at an alley-oop, which ends up hitting Devinson's face instead. Thiru crashes to the floor like a fallen paper, and I know he's furious.

Gordon and Silva try to wake him up, but Thiru stands up, his eyes blazing with anger, and walks towards Devinson. He pulls off a camel clutch, and the game takes a comedic turn. The referee tries to regain control, but everyone's laughing.

Thiru's still fuming, his nose bleeding, and he growls, "What the hell is that for!!!!HUH!!!!!!!" Devinson's tapping out, and I'm holding back laughter. Gordon and Silva are cracking up, and it's clear the game's turned into a comedy show.

Arie and Zuan are laughing at our team's antics, and I walk over to Thiru, who's still got Devinson in a tight grip. I glance at Thiru's face, and I see tears welling up in his eyes. I'm not sure what's going on, but then I hear him mutter, "Death to all COUPLES!!!!!!" – I'm shocked.

Devinson's still tapping out, asking Thiru to let him go. I'm trying to stifle my laughter, but it's getting harder by the second.

The atmosphere's electric, but Mariam's cheerleader team is getting out of hand. "Go!!!! DAGGERS!!!!" they chant, but I'm not sure they're cheering for the right reasons. The tension's escalating, and it's on the verge of a brawl.

The referee tries to intervene, pulling Thiru and Devinson apart, but it's too late. Gordon and Silva suddenly erupt into a fight, exchanging blows and insults. "Asshole!!!! I feel that dude there!!!! At least Babes looking at you!!!! I'm just another white guy in this place asshole!!!!!" Gordon yells, his face red with rage.

The whistle blows, but it doesn't even faze them. Frankie charges at Devinson, and Thiru joins the fray, shouting "DEATH TO COUPLES!!!!!!" The two of them double-team Devinson, and it's like a wrestling match – not a semi-finals basketball game.

The scene's descended into chaos, with every member of both teams brawling over the girls. I'm stunned – what happened to the game? The referees are trying to restore order, but it's like they're fighting a losing battle. This is absolute madness.

Tyrone grins at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Damn homie... if this is your kind of fun in this school, sign me up..." I wave my hand in disagreement, trying to dissuade him. "Don't be homie…"

But it's too late. The young players are already caught up in the chaos, and even the coaches are getting in on the action. Coach David is mocking Coach Edward as they engage in a makeshift Mongolian sumo match. "We haven't done our match yet and you started this war!!!!" Coach David teases, his voice laced with amusement.

Meanwhile, Frankie and Thiru are tormenting Devinson, their faces twisted in mock anger. Peter and Mikhail are beating each other down for some unknown reason, and I'm left facepalming in exasperation.

I glance over at Mariam and Latifah's cheering teams. Mariam's team is chanting "GOO!!!!! DAGGGERS!!!! TAKE THEM DOWN!!!!" in a ridiculously over-the-top fashion. Latifah's team responds with "FIGHT!!! FIGHT TO THE BITTER END", and I throw up my hands in frustration. "Hey!!! Don't add fuel to the fire!!!”

The scene's absolute pandemonium, with players and coaches alike losing their cool. I'm starting to wonder if anyone's going to remember this is supposed to be a basketball game.

I'm not in the mood for another chaotic event that'll leave me dodging crazed students. Memories of the last time I got caught up in a wild chase with the student council and Form 5 students still linger. At least then I knew what it meant to be the hunted.

I take a seat on the bench, trying to escape the mayhem. Bottles, towels, and even the referee are being thrown around, and I dodge them with a mixture of skill and luck.

I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and... BAM! A water dispenser crashes into my head, sending a searing pain through my skull. "DAMN, that hurts!!!" I yell, waking up from the impact.

When I stand up, my eyes blaze with determination. "You all are going to have an extra training session – personally from me!!!" I spot Frankie and Thiru and jump at them, delivering a double suplex that sends them crashing to the floor.

Devinson looks like he's about to pray to the gods, hoping he's not the next victim. But before anyone can target him, Sadie swoops in and starts nursing him. "There, there... all good... okay babe..." She's being adorable, but the other team members are seething with jealousy.

The game between Marlins and Kings has come to a halt, with both teams gathering around the court to watch the spectacle unfold. The commentator's voice rings out, "UHHH!!! NOW WE HAVE A BRAWL WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN HERE? LOOKS LIKE THE MARLINS AND KINGS ARE HAVING A BREAK AND LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE BRINGING POPCORN!!" The crowd's in stitches, and I'm just trying to restore some semblance of order.

The dust finally settles, revealing the aftermath of the brawl. Our team is scattered across the floor, everyone looking down in shame. Devinson's still being nursed by Sadie, who's dressed in a cheerleader outfit that's more revealing than I'd expect. Her breasts are partially exposed, and I can see the guys sneaking glances, their faces flushing with embarrassment. Die, guys.

Sadie stands up, her expression stern as she begins lecturing the team – including the coach. "What were you all thinking?!" she scolds, her voice firm but cute. The guys are all ears, their eyes fixed on her as they nod sheepishly. I chuckle to myself, knowing that all it takes is a girl talking to them to tame these rowdy team members.

The team's humbled, and for a moment, the chaos is forgotten. Sadie's got them wrapped around her finger, and I'm just waiting for someone to apologize for their behavior. This might be the most effective "medicine" for my teammates yet.

The team's focus is back, and even the coach is ready to dive back into the game. Maybe the intense match earlier stressed them out, but they're raring to go again. Time for me to step up as captain.

"Have you guys let it out of your system?" I ask, and the team responds with a thunderous "OOOOOOO!!!!" The referee looks a bit battered but still fit to officiate.

I bow down and apologize to the referee, and Tyrone follows suit. With the team's energy renewed, I set the lineup. Meanwhile, both teams decide to discipline their coaches, putting them in the corner with a sign that reads "Naughty Corner." Coach David and Coach Edward sit down, looking sheepish.

Sadie's got a way with people, I suppose.

Sylvia and Priscilla are glaring at me, and I'm not sure why. Do they think I've got a thing for Sadie? That's ridiculous. I'm not interested in that kind of drama. The game's what matters now.

The game's heating up, and our team's on fire. The lineup's solid: Devinson's handling the point guard duties, Frankie's dominating the center position, Adam's sinking shots like a pro as shooting guard, and Long Man and Wong are bringing the heat as forwards.

The scoreboard's flashing 100:77 in our favor, and we've got a comfortable lead. I've decided to sit out for the next 5 minutes, and Tyrone's doing the same. The score's now 120:100, and our team's still cruising.

But I notice something's changed. The team's no longer just playing for fun – they're focused on taking down their opponents. Frankie's dunking like it's the last minute of the game, his movements fierce and intense. Adam's shots are suddenly pinpoint accurate, and Devinson's dribbling is mesmerizing, like a magician weaving a spell.

The energy on the court is electric, and it's clear that our team's on a mission to win.

The final quarter's about to kick off, and Tyrone's joining the fray. I decide to join him, switching with Long Man, who's already exhausted from the game. As we swap positions, Long Man grins and says, "Thanks, bos. I got to accomplish something before retiring to focus on my uni studies..." I give him a high-five, and we exchange nods.

Tyrone flashes me a smile, and we set up an unconventional lineup: Devinson at point guard, Frankie at center, Wong at forward, and Adam and me as dual shooting guards. We're going all-in on Wong's scoring abilities. The atmosphere shifts, and the crowd's electric.

The commentators are going wild, and I can hear Marlins and Kings having a heated argument in the background. With 2 minutes left, the score's 120-118, thanks to Tyrone's clutch shots. I take a shot, and it goes in – 123-118.

Tyrone, Gordon, and Silva form a deadly trio that's impossible to contain. Our team can't keep up, so we switch to counter-attacks. Tyrone weaves through our defense like it's nothing and dunks the ball. "123-120!!!! UMS Ball!!!!" The crowd's on the edge of their seats – this is getting intense.

I take another shot, and it goes in again. "125-120!!!! DAGGERS BALL!!!" I fist-pump and point at Tyrone, the trash talk hanging in the air. The game's heating up, and it's anyone's game.

The clock's ticking down, and we're in the final 2 minutes of the game. Tyrone and I are on fire, trading baskets and keeping the score neck-and-neck. The intensity is palpable, and both teams are running on fumes.

UMS is trying to counter our momentum by switching players, but it's not working. Our team's endurance training is paying off – we're moving like well-oiled machines, our legs burning but our determination unwavering.

The crowd's on the edge of their seats, cheering and chanting for their favorite team. The scoreboard's flashing rapidly, and every point counts. Tyrone and I exchange a fierce glance – this is it. We're going all out for the win.

The game's become a battle of wills, each team refusing to back down. Who's going to emerge victorious? The tension's building, and the outcome's far from certain.

The clock's ticking down, and we're in the final stretch. With 15 seconds left, Tyrone suddenly accelerates, leaving the defenders in the dust. He slams the ball home, and the scoreboard flashes 123-122. But I'm not fooled – I know Tyrone's not done yet.

In a flash, Tyrone targets Devinson, and before I can react, he passes the ball to Silva, who sinks a shot. The scoreboard now reads 123-124. UMS is ahead, and our hearts sink.

But I'm not giving up. With the last second ticking away, I see Frankie sprinting towards the hoop. Tyrone charges at him, but I manage to hold him off. Devinson takes the pass, and in a beautiful arc, he alley-oops the ball to himself, slamming it home in a buzzer-beating dunk.

The crowd erupts as the buzzer sounds, and the scoreboard flashes 125-124 in our favor. We've done it – we've beaten UMS! Frankie lets out a triumphant roar, and we all jump for joy, hugging each other in celebration.

As we walk off the court, Tyrone approaches me with a grin. "You have a good team, homie... fighting with everything they've got." We shake hands, and I smile back. "We'll meet again in the match," he says, and I nod in agreement. "Yeah... you too.”

The finals are set – Marlins and us, again. I shake my head, chuckling. "Damn man, here we go again." The rivalry's far from over.