Chapter 34 - School break - 1st official competition of the basketball team

We went back to our home. Sylvia is still with her family, seems like they must had a long discussion of for catching up lost time. Everyone back home leaving to their own place, Tama, mom, Hana and Sam. Mom is making dinner, I asked Hana and Tama to freshen-up while I clean-up Sam.

A phone call ring, I pick it up

“Helo?”

“Is this Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“This coach David”

“Yeah, what’s up coach?”

“We easily manage to beat the Borneo College team for the friendlies”

“That good..”
“Tomorrow, we going to prepare ourself for the competition”

“Against?”

“A semi pro team, we are already in the league…”

“That is strange? But whatever I’m in..”

“Good..”

I hung up, its been a while not playing basketball, this time I should focus it, while training with Mr Marcus along with it. Since its night when we arrived, I check on the computer, a dozen of message from a lot of names but one of them is from Mr Hawk.

“Hey Alex,

How are you? Its seems you did not respond for a while for Natalie, she is worried sick about it, still the same kid? I know that as well. I heard rumours that your friend Damien told you something about Natalie on her encounter with someone else. Well a lot of things happen right now. Hopefully it will resolved soon. But it's seems that Natalie is also not in the listening mood about it. Puan Mas told me that you wanted to be like her, that’s great keep going kid, soon you will reach it.

Hope to see you soon son-in-law

Love Mr Hawk

Could not believed that he emailed me so I replied it back

Thanks Mr Hawk, but I’m fine and I understand it as well. It will not distract me as well because of what Damien said to me before, that is something I need to settle soon.

At least I know what is going on can’t wait until the semester ends and hope Damien doesn’t do anything stupid soon.

I check another email that is from Natalie only pictures that she shared of her own and friends. Is just that I could not make anything at all because if I told her that I’m going to LA she will definitely going to find me, I’m not ready yet to meet Natalie because I’m going to face with Damien soon and I don’t want any distraction that will held it back. I check another email that is from Phylis

“Hey Alex how are you its been a while, did you have a fight with Natalie? Because she is really grouchy when its about you. Hope you talk to Nat, because she is really stubborn about things.”

Damn what is happening to her? I check another is from an Matt

“Bro!!!!! Our sworn brother how are you!! Been a while never been in contact!! I heard rumours that Hiew is really going to date Natalie. But damn how are you bro!!”

What the hell happen? I really hope that time moves quickly to LA soon. My eyes could open anymore and I went to sleep.

The next morning after subuh prayers the routine training that I followed from Mr Marcus

100 sets of push up, sit up, squat, suicide, body lift, including 1000 jumping jacks. All of the basic training as a warm-up routine. I continued my punching and CQC training for at least an hour. Then continued my basketball shooting and dribbling including rebounding, and lay up. Mom asked me what is my activity

“Umm, basketball training, working part time at night.”

“Okay. But make room for your family as well got it?”

“Okay..”

I ride my bike and head to the training gym where all the basketball members meet. Everyone is there and greeted at me

“Welcome back sir!!” Everyone

“Captain…” Frankie

“Yeah what’s up?”

“Seems you prediction against Borneo College team, just with the second team we dominate the 1st and 2nd quarter of the game, not even 1st team manage to head into action.”

“Yeah told ya, you guys are really strong because I know that you could head to head against a semi pro…”

The others were waiting for me but the one that I’m surprised the most is Peter, because he is not as cocky as before.

“Hey Frankie…is it me or that fire brand suddenly quiet himself on the corner there?”

“uh…..he was nervous during the 3rd and 4th quarter…he lost his pace during the match we had to replace him…”

“He is an idiot captain!!” Mikhail is mocking him

“Asshole!! I could make it if you give me the chance!!” Peter

“Yeah with a robot style walking there is not a chance I’m going to give that!!”

“Shut it!!”

“Idiot!!” They eyeballing at each other seems to we have a healthy rivalry between them.

“Ok, ok, I want to see that how much you guys have been improve during my absence”

I setup a challenge against them. I ask Frankie to setup the team.

“What would like captain?”

“Just choose the best starting line-up without going out with aces”

Frankie choose list of players

(Point guard - Devinson ; Shooting Guard - Mikhail; Centre - Thiru; Power forward - Danish ; Forward - Peter)

Then I choose the the line -up for the challenge

(Point guard - Jackson ; Centre - Frankie; shooting guard - Chong ; Power forward - Fredickson; small forward - Long Man)

“Shit!!! They have aces here!!” Peter

“Shut up focus on the game then!!” Mikhail

Rowdy as ever these two. I watch them and coach David is the referee.

“I want to see it before I goes in the match!!”

“Alex, maybe you could warm up..”

“Yeah coach…”

I warm up for the game while they started the match

As usual Frankie dominate the centre while Chong is lethal in the 3 point box. But Danish totally control the rebounds, Devinson is really good with flow of the game. Mikhail and Peter still need some improvement in their games. While I warm up, I saw them, struggling with team work, between Mikhail and Peter are arguing each other now

“Asshole, look where you going dude!!” Peter

“I’m shorter than you, better look with your eyes not your mouth!!” Mikhail

“Stop fighting focus on the game!!” Thiru

The starting games seen the difference

Team Thiru vs Team Frankie

“4 : 9” that’s the difference from starting game

“Keep going!!!” Frankie

“Focus on the rebounds, don’t let Fredickson getting the rebounds Danish!!”

Danish is being challenge with strength, once a taller player than him, he is struggling to take control of the rebounds. Peter and Mikhail is also struggling with Chong controlling the box. Only Devinson is manage to control the flow of the passing. While I warming up, the members maintaining the game performance is Devinson, Long Man, Fredickson, while Frankie and Thiru is at their usual performance. I need Peter and Mikhail to take control or else they will be our Achilles heel. Danish is still new here but he is slowly improving his skill against taller players. I could not take it and called them

“Mikhail and Peter come ere!!” They were surprised by this and they approach me

“Peter do you what is your job?” I want to know what he is thinking about time to act like a captain

“Getting the scores but Mikhail doesn’t pass to me every time!!”

“Shut up, you going to an impossible space that even I could not make it!!”

“Shut up you two asshole!!” 💢

“Frankie could hold the sparring game for a while!!?”

“Got it captain”

I brought the two at another court

“Come 2 on 1 against me!!”

“Huh!?”

“Don’t wait against me, I need the warm-up!!”

“Fine!! Better don’t take the heat then captain!!” Cocky as ever this guy

“Ok captain!!” Mikhail seems obedient even we are at the same age.

“Well you two need to keep your games up, because once in the league this is not even close to school level game got it!!”

“Have been playing with the leagues before then?” Peter

“I do have some part of it…but come on lets play!!”

“Okay!!” Both of the seems to be fired up for this.

I hold the ball first and show them what I mean playing at the league level games. I dribble through them,

“That is a big hole for me dude!!”

“Shit he is fast!!”

“Hold him down”

I pass through them and give them morale breaker, a slam dunk

“Come on, I’ve got all day to show this!?”

“Shit he could dunk with that height!?”

“Focus then!!” Mikhail seem started to get focus with his game

“Your guys turn…” I pass to Peter

“Let me show you the next captain skill!!”

He dribbles through the same speed like me but Mikhail is shouting at him

“Hey don’t forget this is not one on one!!” Yeah he is right he has a partner with him.

“Hey dude….don’t forget being a captain is not showing off skills” I took the ball, and dribble back to the front they still arguing

“Told ya idiot!!” Mikhail

“Dammit he is good” no you just an idiot not seen the whole picture here.

“One more time…” I speed through again. And I takes the shot from the 3 point box and it went in.

“Damn….he could do it even under pressure by us…”

“Dammit!!! How could he do that?!”

“If a hole that I could weave through with only a shot guys!! Used your head!! Not your muscle!!”

Seems like they did not listen again, and still arguing. We played again, they started to get reckless, Mikhail did not pass to Peter and they still doing solo. I block Mikhail shots

“Hey guys better find a proper space and someone to pass to rather than finishing the shot!!”

Mikhail seems out of place again while Peter is still looking for a chance. I need to show them what I mean or else they will not be place in the team soon, because they have the potential in the teams firepower.

“Lets do this again!! Or else neither one of you will be place on the 1st line up!!”

“Shit!! Come on dude we’ve got to do this!!” Mikhail

“What the hell am I doing right now!!”

They started to pass with each other, now things started to get interesting. They begun to utilise the advantage, and Peter takes the shot it went in.

“Hell yeah!!”

“Lets do this asshole!!”

“Whatever jackass!!”

“Still talking trash?”

I dribble again, they started to improved their defence. They manage to wall me both side, things getting interesting.

“Good!! Nows that I want to see”

“Don’t leave a hole behind asshole!!” Mikhail

“Don’t stumble jackass!!” Peter

I lowered my dribbling to prevent been steal by them, and I side turn and run straight. I purposely takes the shot and Peter manage to block it. This time their chemistry had begun to improved they never shown any kind of weakness for now but I got to increase the pace. I speed through them. Let break their morale a bit.

“Let me show you guys how the leagues played…”

I instantly takes the shot and I speed through them.

“Shit!!”

“Stop him!!”

The ball bounce at the basket and its time for the rebound but I want to make a statement to them

“Rebound!!!”

“Got it!!!”

But they did not realise that behind them I instantly dunk it, I landed it hard that it rattles the board. Frankie shouted at them

“Hah!!! There goes our captain showing off again!!!”

“Go easy on them captain!!” Thiru

“Yeah captain!!😁” Everyone

“……fuck you!!!!” He 🖕🏼 at them

“Shut up….there is no way we could beat that!!” Mikhail

Seems they had enough.

“Alright…go back again and this time do that the same like that got it?”

“Yes Captain!!” Mikhail

“Yeah, yeah!!” Peter

Seems like Frankie is fired up, they started again. This time Frankie said to them

“I wonder what makes them fired up like that!!! Now this is the 1st line-up team!!”

During the game, the 1st line chemistry is now under control and they had an even match. At the end of the match is 120 : 120, not bad for the team. We are small but that Is more than enough to start the team. At the end of the match we meet up. Frankie started the speech

“Alright, the first match of the season will be against SMK Putatan , team Saturn, they had one of the best forwards and power forwards in this sector!!” SMK Putatan where Manuk, Raj, Zuan and Geoffrey is at. They must be really good since the last match I had with them.

“Get a good rest because the first thing in the morning we are the away team…!!”

“Got it!!!” Everyone

“Hey Captain got anything you want to say?”

I looked at them, there is only one thing that I could say to them

“Strong….we are strong…that is all…keep that in mind”

“OOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” Everyone

“Yeah we are strong!!” Peter

“Don’t get cocky again!!” Mikhail

“That’s right…we are strong, because we are a team” Coach David

“Our first match…..” Thiru is crying with joy

“Yeah….” Long Man is also crying

“Don’t let our senior disappointed with this season because this is their last time to be in school!!”

“Alright old man!!”

“We not that old!!!!”

Everyone laugh

After 3 hours of intense basketball training and meeting we head back home. Me however is going to meet Mr Marcus to train. There he is, waiting for me for the training

“The usual kid…”

“Got it teacher…”

I warm up with 200 set pushup, sit-up, squats, body lifting including 2000 jumping jacks. Then he asked me for military march lap run in the forest hill with a military bag pack. In an hour I manage to complete all of it. Mr Marcus asked me to follow him. This time he showed me how to disable a firearm without a gun.

“There is one way but its a risky skill to learn….”

“and that is?”

“If a pistol, hold the chamber puller instantly… come on I’ll show you”

He asked me with a gun and he suddenly pull the chamber away

“Shit!! That is amazing!!”

“Yep with that it will not make the shot but you to be quick”

We train the method with only the pistol, seems the skill that I practice with a gun is making sense now. My CQC is been modified again, a mixed with Krav Magra. Mr Marcus asked me to used my legs to disable an opponent. After a few hours of intense training, I head back home where I need a long rest for tomorrows match. Reaching home, no one is home and Mom left a letter behind

‘Hey Alex, we went out for dinner just eat whatever first later I will brought back takeaways for Alex”

Well I’m not that hungry, I went straight to bed and rest without looking at anything at all. Someone wake me up.

“darling…..” This must be a dream, I’m ignoring it because tomorrow’s is the match. I don’t give a shit at all right now.

“Get away from big brother!! Grr!!!” Now I hear Hana what the hell is going on, I’m really dreaming.

“Babe….” Shit now I hear Priscilla must be all the crazy stuff, whatever. Its getting loud and noisy to the point, I just close my eyes and stuff my head with the pillow.

“Just get the fuck out of this room will ya……” I’m just too sleepy right now.

“Get out!! Big brother is tired!!!” Hana is really is shouting, well whatever. After a few minutes it suddenly went quiet. Finally some peace.

The next morning, I woke up and its early, since the match started at 8am, after the subuh prayers I woke up. Mom woke up as well.

“You had game today right?”

“Yep..I can’t take any food at the moment, maybe after that though…”

“Sure, here is your favourite” teh Tarik for breakfast that feels good.

“Gotta go first mom”

“See you soon, where is the match?”

“SMK Putatan”

“Got it, see ya”

“Hey mom, I just had a strange dream…I could hear Sylvia and Priscilla..”

“Well then maybe is just your imagination then…😄” that smile, why I had a feeling that they are here. Well whatever, gotta go now. I head to SMK Putatan, where all other members were there as well including Mr Rahman

“Well then, this is our first major competition all the best”

“Yeah…”

Coach David instruct us to warm up, with our new jersey in black and gold. We getting ourself ready for the match. The court is not as big like what I usually play back in America but its the school basketball court, both school principal is there as well. Mr Rahman started the speech

“This is our first official match between school levels in a local league, this is a fruitful activity that will propel SIGMA Institution as a prominent school in a sports competition. May all players be a good sport and all the best in the competition” well that is some statement then the principal of SMK Putatan also make her speech

“This is also our first time joining the competition at a semi pro-level game, our team is consist of student and former student who will be joining the competition. One of them is our own MVP player Ahmad Arie, he is still one of the best Basketball player in Sabah, and our own official player for the semi pro league players. This will be our star of the show. Thank you.”

Damn even Arie is here, and he is looking at me. Frankie and Thiru is nervous yeah they never met Arie yet. After the speech, we getting crowds from both side. Seems Mr Rahman pull something here, with mom, Hana, Sam and Tama is here. Mariam and Amin is here as well.

“Hey coach?”

“Yeah?”

“You know that this will effect the team’s morale…”

“I don’t know what is Mr Rahman is thinking off because look at our players now”

All of them are nervous as shit. Seems like that had an effect on the players. Arie approached me

“See told ya we will meet again.”

“Yeah…”

“Captain huh….”

“Uh…yeah, you are the captain?”

“Nope…its Zuan…”

“ah…that is crazy…couldn’t believed that he is the captain…”

“yep..hahahahaah anyway all the best, I couldn’t wait to be in action against you…”

We fist pump and left the.

“Whoa Captain, do you know him?” Thiru

“Yeah, why?”

“He is the thorn of Borneo College, we never get to the top 3 because of him”

“Ah…yeah maybe because you in Borneo College and the team they choose are bunch of lousy players to begin with…”

“I don’t think so, because Devinson was part of the team and he could not manage to beat his pace as a point guard”

“He is a point guard then”

“Yep, the best secondary school point guard in the state”

“We’ll see how far we are between them…”

It seems they only know Arie but I know others are there. Manuk, Raj, Zuan, Geoffrey, Kazui and Bboy is there as well. All of them is on par against most other team. Their team are a bit taller than some of us. I do hope that our tall players is up to this.

We entered the court and the other side is also facing us. We greeted each other and left to our side. Zuan is smiling at me

“Yo, we meet again could not believed that it will be this soon though.”

“Alex…you know my cousin is really hanging out at my place…but its okay since the last family meeting we manage to close it, and everyone is happy.”

“Good for her then…”

“Yeah…but not good for you though…”

“Later we’ll talk about it”

We left the court and begin to set the tactics. Coach David setup the team

“Starting line-up!! Peter - forward, Danish- Power forward, Mikhail - Shooting guard, Frankie - Centre and Jackson - Point guard!! Get ready!!”

“Yes sir”

Their starting line up is Manuk - small forward, Raj - Centre, Zuan - Power forward, Geoffrey - Point guard and Kazui - Shooting guard. Seem the old team is joining back from the last weekend cup.

Arie tried to show off us. Which he took a 3 point shot and it went in. Now that is a statement, I responded to them with a dunk. Which everyone is surprised.

The commentator started to talk

“Seems we already know that these two are their own aces”

I give instruction to Frankie

“Watch out for Zuan and Raj, they are one of the taller team players that is faster than our own…”

“Got it captain..”

Frankie and Raj in for the jump.

“Hey Alex, we did not meet in the last game!!”

“…..🖕🏼….” I give him that and he laugh

Frankie is tall but I know Raj could jump higher than him.

They jump and shock Frankie to the core where Raj jump higher than him. He took the ball and pass to Geoffrey and he speeds through them. Peter tried to block him, Geoffrey makes a fakes dribble pass, and he speeds through again. Frankie could not manage to chase him, Mikhail is blocking him, and he pass to Raj and he pass to Zuan and he pass to Manuk. The team is being pushed back, simple as that our team is struggling with them.

I have expected this and Zuan does a slam dunk that it rattle the board. He pointed his finger at Arie, he is smiling. Coach David said to me

“The last game I saw is like this they dominate the attack front but their back is loose as hell.”

“Yeah…”

“Let’s make them move towards to their pace first until we find an opening.”

“Yeah on the 3rd quarter I want all of the aces in..”

“Got it, me, Chong, Devinson and Thiru on the 3rd replacing Mikhail, Peter, Danish and Jackson”

“Yeah”

On the end of the 1st quarter the result is at team Daggers vs Team Saturn, 8 : 18, 10 points difference. Peter and Mikhail started to get tired and Coach subsitute Frankie with Fredickson and Peter with Long Man. I could see Peter started to get extremely tired from the 1st game.

“Damn they are really good…”

“That’s because you keep following their pace…how does it feel against a team that has a good chemistry with quick pace?”

“damn hard!!!” Everyone

“Then Peter and Frankie will switch with Long man and Fredickson, I need Frankie to rest for the 3rd quarter got it” Coach David

“But I could run again sir!!” Peter

“No because this is not the time where my players injured during the long run…”

“Got it!!”

“Jackson!!”

“Yes sir!!”

“We need you to match the pace during the 2nd quarter of the game. While we make Long Man experience to take the attack, Mikhail your focus is just keep scoring without miss!!, while Fredickson you need to cover the rebound and the board”

“Got it!!”

“Raj and Zuan is the fast and big they would used that to their advantage, don’t let them keep their pace on their game…”

The 2nd quarter starts the games starts slow with Jackson is making the pace. With the combination of Danish and Fredickson seems working against the two, Mikhail takes the shot and it went in.

“10 : 18!!”

“Seems the coach done a lot of talking at the moment”

“Yeah, seems their full team is on hold” Peter

“Not yet…until Arie is in then is the full team, then you will know why he is one of the best in Sabah”

Zuan pass to Geoffrey and he slip pass through the defence but the combination of Danish and Fredickson works, he is struggling to make a pass to Zuan, he makes the pass to Manuk but was block by Mikhail and he pass to Jackson where he makes the run to the basket, Jackson see the chance and pass to Danish where he dunk it.

“12 :18!!”

“That kid is something for a 13 year old!!”

I talk to Peter

“Look at the movement..of Danish”

Peter is observing Danish movement and Long Man takes lay up and went it.

“14 :18!!”

Impressive run will it change during this quarter.

“They have one weakness and that is the firing range that’s where Mikhail went in”

Mikhail stole the ball again and pass to Jackson. He pass to Long Man where he speeds through the defence, he pass to Mikhail and pass again to Fredickson and he dunk it but been block by Raj and Manuk. The ball pass to Geoffrey and he speeds again while making a fake shot and pass to Kazui and he took the shot it went in

“14 : 20”

“Team Saturn is taking the lead!!”

Jackson called them

“One at a time!! Don’t follow their pace!!!”

Jackson leading is going slowly to the basket, which he saw Mikhail in the open.

“Someone block that kid!!!” Zuan

Geoffrey block the pass and sent it to Kazui where he speed through and pass to Zuan and he makes the lay up but been block by Danish and Fredickson. Danish looked tired, where Coach David ask Peter to standby

“Got it!!”

“Substitution!!!”

Peter went in and Danish is out.

“They are quick to counter attack …..” Danish

“Yeah..” I know that they practice that move since that day I met them during the weekend cup a glimpse of their skills.

Peter manage to steal the ball and pass to Long Man where he speeds through. Its a long match but it ended at the result of 20 : 26, just nice for us to catch up.

“Not many goals we have seen they really hold it out, we could see during this half time!!”

We rest for 30 mins and discuss with the preparation for the second half of the game. Mom approach me

“Never knew you are the captain of the team, if Natalie knows this she will be surprised”

“Yeah, she will”

“Proud of you big brother!! When are you going to play?”

“soon…”

After the change of tactics we finalise the line-up

“Alex - forward, Thiru - power forward, Frankie - Centre, shooting guard - Chong, Devinson - point guard!! We proceed as plan”

“This is it!!” Devinson seems fired up

“Yeah, makes sure supply us the pass!!” Frankie

We head out and this time everyone is cheering even louder, it seems that Arie is going in. Arie pointed to me

“This is all what we are waiting for!!! Both aces are going in!!!”

Sylvia and Priscilla is cheering me

“GO ALEX!!!😍”

Mariam called them and gather. I had a bad feeling about this. We meet up outside at the centre line

Frankie and Raj jumps, as usual Raj took it. But I manage to steal it and speed through Arie tried to stop me, but the difference in physical I had the advantages.

“Hey want me to show it again?”

“Try…”

Raj, Manuk and Juan block me, I went through and toss it to the basket and it went in instantly. Whistle blows

“22:26!!”

“Foul on the defence team!! 2 shot penalty!!”

The crowd going wild, everyone is surprised even Arie is surprised

“How the hell you do that!!?” Zuan

“Its like flying!!” Manuk

“Nice captain!!” Frankie

“WHOA!!!!! That is some move from the captain!!! Team sigma is chasing them”

I took the shot and it went in.

“24 : 26!!”

“Instant comeback!!! What a player!!! He must be a pro!!”

Geoffrey tried to dribble pass through but I took it again and speeds again

“Stop him!!” Zuan

Arie and me one on one again. This time Raj long arm blocking my views but I saw Frankie is moving there is used Hana’s technique and takes the shot it went up like a rocket, Frankie read me and he alley oop it and dunk it

“26 : 26!!!”

“Its a tie!!”

“Now that is something you don’t see it everyday!!”

Everyone is cheering like a mad, suddenly Mariam appeared as a cheer leader!? What the hell?

“GO SIGMA!!!” Mariam wore the short skirt with, Sylvia, Priscilla and Sadie. Even Arie and Zuan looked at me

“Not even our team have that you bastard…” Arie is crying

“Damn man, your school is fun!!” Zuan

“uh….” That is the reputation of the school then, Mr Rahman is cheering there as well, the principal of SMK putatan is surprised by this and she called the other to form a cheer team

Now the court is even louder with cheering from both side. Now its like a real competition.

Devinson is bedazzled by Sadie dress while I smack his back

“Focus idiot, don’t get distracted!!!”

“Ahh!! ugh…got it captain!!”

The purpose is to distract the other team that will focus on me while Chong and Devinson taking the game. We don’t want they know the true skill of Chong until the last moment. Arie takes the 3 points and it went in

“26 :29!!”

“That’s our super Ace!!”

Yeah that is impressive. I countered back again and I did Hana’s move, rocket shot it went in

“29 :29!!”

“What on earth is that!! I flies off like a rocket and landed like a ballistic missile!! Nice!!”

The crowd went wild. Is just me and Arie taking the show. Arie took the ball, Thiru, Chong, Devinson is blocking him, but he is smiling.

“Nice, is this your plan as well Alex?”

I smile at him. But I know he will weave through, as expected he dribble pass the three of them and instantly pass to Zuan and pass to Geoffrey where he takes the shot. It went in

“29 :31!!”

Devinson pass the ball to me and I pass back to Frankie while Frankie makes the long throw where is speed through is what I’m good at.

“Stop Alex!!!” Arie

“Shit!!”

“Dammit!!!”

“God dammit!!”

I speed through and the ball bounce to the basket I manage to catch it and dunk it

“31 : 31!!!”

“ALEX DUNK IT, FROM THAT HEIGHT!!!!!”

The crowd going wild, our cheer leaders are jumping with joy

“SIGMA!!! YAY!!!!”

Its really loud now we could not even hear our own teammates, Coach David is shouting to make the move.

“Make sure get Alex the score!!”

Arie pass the ball to Zuan and Zuan charge forward against Frankie and Thiru but he fakes it and pass to Arie where he dunk it

“WOOOOOOO OUR SUPER ACE IS DUNKING IT!!!!”

He pointed at me

“You’re not the only one that could do that!!”

“Asshole!!” We fist pump

Devinson pass the ball to Thiru and I signal them to pass to Chong, its time. Chong takes the shot, its a beautiful form and it went in.

“34 : 31!!”

“What!! We have a shooter here!!” The crowd going wild!!

The games moves quickly where in matter of minutes we manage to took point to 100 : 102 to the 3rd quarter now is the final quarter.

With Chong is now our extra firepower, Team Saturn is changing its tactics marking Chong and Thiru. While Arie will mark me.

“What a game this turn out!!”

Now cameras is shooting our game, and looks like other teams is looking at us. Seems like our game is getting the headlines soon. Borneo College is here as well, they are analysing our team members. Most of our player are starting to get tired by this. Thiru and Chong is getting tired from this pace. I ask them to switch to Peter and Mikhail. They look refreshed now, I instruct them.

“So now this is the real team, are guys ready?”

“Yeah!!” Mikhail

“Never been this excited!!”

“Good just like what I told you guys about…”

Team Saturn is switching as well, some recognise members, Yan switch with Kazui and Manuk is Kamal both of them are veteran among the team.

Arie takes the lead and shot from three points it went in

“100 : 105!!”

“That is an instant pull away!!”

I countered it back with a fake shot and pass to Mikhail where he took it, it went in

“103 : 105!!”

“They not going down not by a long shot!!”

We going in for the attack, Kamal pass to Arie. I manage to block it and speed through, making a pass to Devinson. He pass to Frankie and pass back to Mikhail, he fakes it and pass to Peter and he lay up and went in.

“105 : 105!!”

“Its a tie!!”

“Both teams is head to head!!”

For last game, both team constantly getting to score but neither is pulling away, until the last 2 mins is only 118 : 118

“This is intense, I have never seen such match like this!!”

Everyone is cheering for their teams. Both teams is evenly match. Peter and Mikhail is feeling the restrain, Thiru is extremely tired from the constant pace, leaving me and Frankie is still standing. I’m impressed with Devinson that could manage to hold himself, Thiru is being substitute with Fredickson and Peter is switch with Long Man, the other teams is also switching because Geoffrey is already tired. He has been switch with Bboy. Arie is showing weariness, and struggling to pace with me.

“We have only a minute left to settle this..”

“Yeah…most of our teams is tired…”

Arie is also tired from the match. We could only wait for one small chance. In the last half min, Zuan made a pass to Bboy and landed the shot it went in. But I countered it back and Frankie Dunk it

Now its 120 : 120

Until the last second neither won the match and it leave to a draw. Everyone cheering out loud

“That’s all folks what a game!! Never seen anything like it!!”

So now our league starts with a draw. We face each other and shake hands.

“Seems we are even now, we shall meet again for the next round”

“yeah…”

After the match, Coach David started the meeting.

“This is a good start since the this semi pro league consist of states representative.”

Coach David gives us the league standings

MBSPL (Malaysian Basketball Semi-Pro League)

Sabah region

With that we need to complete 8 games and had to be at least the top 4 of the region for the knockout stages

The coach of Saturn meet together

“Let us be in the top 4 so we could meet again…”

“Yes, we need to…” Coach David

“Coach do you know who is the current best scorer of the league?”

“From the wild cats and Kings”

Arie then share with us who is the best players there.

“From the Wild Cats is Gabriel, he is the best shooter in the region, he never missed a shot ever since I have known him and he represent the Malaysian National Basketball team. He is just 17 right now but his height is 6’0”

That guy is tall, and Arie explain that mostly the team is average but because of him that the team maintain.

“From the Kings, there are two of them one of them is Pangiran Awang he is 17 also but he is shorter than me, he is a really good point guard and captain of the team. The other one is represent under 17 National Basketball team, he is the star Centre there. Wesley his name 6’7 his height at the age of 15”

About the same height as Frankie and the same age as me. Arie continued

“While others is average, including other teams because non of them represent the national team.”

Coach David look at the next match for tomorrow from now and its Raflessia.

“Seems we could handle this, but we must not underestimate them…”

“Got it!!” Everyone

Arie approach me

“We are the only players that could handle three position naturally so not to worry about a thing..for Borneo College I’ve always beat them easily since you got that kid Devinson there, they won’t stand a chance to win this…”

So then see you tomorrow then. This time will be in our turf.

“Based on my scouting report, they consist of average players, one of them is a former Borneo College student but he is still not one of best. Their previous record only once they qualify for the league that was few years ago”

“Then better get rest for tomorrows match”

I head back home, tired from the match. Once reaching home, I realise there is a lot shoes in the back I wonder, but mostly are girls?! Once I entered Sylvia, Priscilla, Mariam, Amin and Hazlan in the house.

“Uh…mom…?”

“Oh, they were bored at home so they want to hang around during this holiday break”

“ok…but are you approving this? Or what about their parents?”

“Thumbs up….”

“Jeez…”

“kukuku….they had this much fun since last month….”

“Bro, your awesome taking the score for the team…”

Amin showed the statistic of the top scorer by the Malaysian Sports Report

Surprising that the Borneo College team manage to win

“That Gabriel is really something”

“Yep he does…last report point score is 120 basically he does all the shot”

“Meaning that if we stop him, he can’t do nothing”

“But at least you at the top 5 of the best scorer in the region!!”

“That is amazing!!”

I’m started to get tired from the last games and I want to take a bath. I went down to the toilet my usual toilet. Someone is in the toilet, what the hell? There is toilet here. Suddenly someone open it and its Tama, she is naked again!! Shit!!

“Hey!! Tama where is your towel!!?”

“Uhh…I forgot….”

“Shit just used mine then!!!”

“Okay…”

“Return it back to me got it?”

“Okay”

She heads up, I could hear a loud commotion from above

“Ai!! Who’s towel you use then?” Sylvia

“Alex..” Tama

“WHAT!!!” Priscilla

“He asked me to return it back to him…” Tama

Oh shit, I forgot that I better take a new one then. I started to get even louder

“That means he is naked then?”

“Only with boxers…”

Oh shit, I forgot that I better take a new one then. It started to get even louder

“That means he is naked then?” Mariam

“Only with boxers…”

Oh shit, I better get inside the toilet or hide!!

“Alex….” Mariam is calling me

“Dude….what the hell….you got guest here…”

“Darling….”

“Babe….”

Where the hell is Hana?

“Mom!! Get me a towel please!!”

“I just gave it to Amin just now…”

“Dude!!”

He tried to throw it while Mariam catch the towel

“kukuku…”

“Hey that’s not funny Mariam!!” She is up to something, there goes my zen and peace at home

“What would Nat would react if she could see this…” oh shit!! She’s got a camera. She instantly take the shot and run away laughing.She drop the towel and I head to the toilet but this time they all are here what the hell!!!