Chapter 36 - tournament week - against one of the best

The during sahur, seems Sylvia and Priscilla wanted to follow fasting together. Since the match is at the evening. In the morning, we hang around in the house. Dad did not come to the house ever since that incident. But I don’t care about it anymore because I’ve got a competition to begin with. While the others went to sleep again after the subuh prayers, I went to the computer again to check for any emails. There had no updates, I went back to bed. We wake up early in the mornings, this is the first time Hana is doing the fasting, at least she is not complaining compared to Mariam whom is actually her first time. I’ve been doing this since I was 7 years old, Natalie been fasting before with me.

Since Priscilla is here Sylvia is a bit restraint, which is a good thing for me. Training my shoot for the next game is important because is against one of the strongest team, plus I’m fasting. Amin and Hazlan is reading the Al Quran, while teaching Mariam to practice it. Mom wanted to visit the market to buy groceries, Sylvia and Priscilla followed her.

Meaning that I had plenty of time to practice. I went outside Zuan and Geoffrey called me to practice in another school grounds where Merlinder school is.

“Its just closely but we usually trained there.”

“What do you think about competing while fasting?” Zuan

“Never had that experience before because during Ramadan in America it's already summer.”

“That nice..”

“Well Zuan is usually faster and reckless during the Ramadan times…he get’s in fouls that easy”

“Darn…you could check that one out”

We reach the school and it has an indoor basketball court, but I wonder why they don’t had a basketball team here. Geoffrey pointed at it

“On the month of September, this is one of the best secondary basketball team in the region but not because of players but the coach that lead them”

“September?”

“Inter School basketball competition cup…”

“Yeah our school is also one of them, Borneo also had a fair share of the winnings”

“Really, what is the difference between this league?”

“For us the league is another level of a competition but for the local matches where most people watch is the inter school it exist since the 60’s long before this regional league was form”

“Interesting so for our school…”

“win that cup…then the school will get reputation”

“The interesting thing is that is really strict with its rules and regulations”

“So is at a pro’s level game?”

“Yep, I mean a lot of rules and prestige compared to the semi-pro levels”

“This cup will kick start players to be in the National teams”

We entered the court, Arie and another player is there as well

“Hey Alex!! Bout time you’re here..”

“Yeah this is place is….complete…”

“Air condition, this school is one of the best sports facilities in the region, Arie know the captain here and he is gladly to let us use this facilities”

We entered the court, the emblem of the sail fish and each players had different heights from 5’3 to 6’0 wondering why they did not entered the semi-pro’s

“This is Yon, the captain of the Marlins”

We shake hands to the captain

“What’s up captain of the Dagger’s”

“uh..thanks?”

“Hahahahaha!!! This guy is really funny!!” Yon

“Stop messing him will ya!!” Arie

“Nah….I like you kid, because you one of the players that I watch for two games, even Arie having a hard time one on one with you”

“We are just starting to the competition, and we are new here”

“Yeah, nothing like going big”

“Yeah!!” I like him, he has this crazy aura

“Wondering why don’t you join the league?”

“Huh? We don’t have much players here that is interested in basketball and mostly of our boys here is not even close to the level that Arie had maybe the female basketball team is yes but us its nothing…”

“Uh huh…well gonna practice to today’s match…”

“Pangiran huh, Wesley is nothing because he is still inexperience, watch out for Pangiran he is the reason Wesley is that good”

“I’ll take that advice..”

“Well then before I allowed you and the others to play could you one on one with me?”

“uh…ok…” wanted to know how good he is as the captain of the team

“Better play for real Alex, he is the real deal…” Arie

“He is the key player for the Malaysian National Team 1” Zuan

“Got it”

Yon give me the ball, we one on one. I dribble and he have already given me pressure, so this is the pro’s playing for the national level. There no space that I could pass.

“Try a bit harder kid…”

“Funny asshole..”
“Gabriel doesn’t like how I stop him, in the league he is king but in the championship cup he is just the regular”

“Interesting, well then..”

I turn my body and speeds through him, he is still there, he gluing to me like a dog. Jump backwards and takes the shot, it went in.

“Nice!! I’ve always warn the coaches there, we need shooters!!” Yon

“I rather shoot than dunking it…”

“Good now my turn”

He’s not as strong as Frankie but I could feel the pressure that he is pushing me so he could hit me. Suddenly he throws the ball towards the basket and speed through, I catch him, and he dunk it. He is quick on his feet.

“You’re good…”

“nah…is just for fun…” Yon

“Damn asshole..”

“come on your turn”

I shot the ball from the starting line, even before he had the time to block me and it went in perfectly

“That is some crazy shot I seen here.”

“Better watch it!! Yon he is a shooter”

“Yeah…” Yon

Yon took head to head with me, I’m not yet good in defending, I manage to pressure him, so he won’t have enough room but he is still had room to pass through and it went in again.

“He is a bit like Gabriel but since Gabriel is just good with his shooting, he wasn’t much of a passer but you I wonder…”

“Want to try?”

“be my guest”

I throw the shot and sprint towards the basket, the ball bounce at the basket, he tried to rebound but I run towards him and jump and dunk it.

“Nice!! You could dunk as well!!”

“He is the ace of the team”

“I could see that..”

He suddenly change his pace and he took the shot, it missed but I never realise that he took that chance to see my abilities in rebounding, we both jump and he took it.

“The rebounding need some work”

We played the games until Yon asked to stop and he finalise all of it

“You must have a good team, if you playing solo like this…”

“Yeah, they all are, I’m just a temporary player because I’ve got other things in mind”

Yon showed me some things especially tactics and rules of the Championship cup including players that need to watch. It's a short meeting but I played with Geoffrey and Zuan because Arie could not play this time because of his entrance exam for the university in Japan. Mariam and Amin is here as well, they were surprised by the facilities.

“This is sick!! This place is even air condition!!” Mariam

“This is cool place to play!!” Amin

I introduce them and Yon and other student were surprised because I never knew that Mariam is a celebrity.

“Shit!! Its Mariam the dancer with Lil Kim, don’t you guys know about her!!” Yon

They even asked for photograph with her. One of them suddenly started music. Mariam then showed them her dance move, some of them tried to followed her behind. Amin and me looking in front but she ask us to join the fun.

“This place is sick!! I could get an inspiration for my dance soon!!”

We dance around for the fun of it until one of the teachers scolded us

“HEY!! This is not a party plus this is the Ramadan!!!”

Everyone laugh and apologise to the teacher but once she saw Mariam she suddenly ask for her autograph.

“Rarely seen a celebrity here!!”

We went back with Zuan and Geoffrey where Arie is still hanging around with Yon.

“Well better head back because we going to have an easy game today, all the best for you though against Kings”

“yeah…”

“But Arie did say that just stop him though…”

“Yeah hopefully but it be best that you don’t start first…”

“Yeah…I plan to…since we’ve got Devinson and Jackson its easy now for them”

“Yeah…because Wesley is kinda reckless”

“Huh?”

“You better check his statistic in fouls, its really high”

“hah…”

We part ways and once we back, mom and the girls is back, she explain to us

“Today we are cooking something special today, Priscilla, Mariam, and Priscilla you going to help me got it!! Because we going to have guest today…”

“Ai..?”

Mom suddenly laughing like Mariam

“kukuku…you’ll see…there you better finish the game and head back here got it!!”

“Yeah, yeah…”

“Aren’t you suppose to see you own son’s game?” Mariam

“nah…I’m not into basketball, more like football for me I mean soccer…”

“Mom is a former college soccer player when she was young…”

“Your mom is everything eh..” Mariam

“Well then win it, and head back home we all waiting here”

“We are going with Alex, to see the game!!” Mariam

“Yeah!!”

Amin brought his bike, we both ride it and head to KK high school where our team members are already here.

“About time, but we had a problem”

“Yeah?”

“Danish, and Mikhail could not join due to health problems including they are not fit to play, Chong is still not fit, and Devinson is still not fit to play at the moment” Coach David

“Well then who is then?”

“Peter, Frankie, Fredickson, Long Man, Thiru, Jackson” Coach David

“Should be enough”

We head inside the team is ready, they in full force with Pangiran and Wesley. Wesley is really tall

Our setup is Peter - power forward, Centre - Frankie, Point guard - Jackson, Shooting guard - me, Forward is Long Man. We prepare ourself for the game

“This is it…”

“Yeah, our first big match”

Frankie and Wesley on the centre and Frankie won the jump and pass to me, which I instantly shoot from the 3 points and it went in. KK Highschool went into silent, while Mariam and Amin is cheering us.

“He is like Gabriel!!”

“Shit another shooter!!”

Pangiran play the game but is contained by Thiru and Jackson, the tactic devise by Coach David works. We manage to contain firing power of the two. And the result is now 5 : 0

“We should be leading!!”

Pangiran pass to another player which he speeds up to the basket and taken the shot but I block it, and pass to Frankie which he pass to Jackson they speed to the front where Wesley stand there, they pass to me back and I take the shot, Wesley long reach but I’ve got a trick in my sleeve and I shot from the above and it went in.

“8 : 0!!” Everyone is surprised even Mariam and Amin were surprised

“Even Wesley could not stop him!!”

“WE ARE KINGS!!!!!” The supporter is cheering their teammates

They suddenly change tactics with replacing Wesley with another player and they gain momentum instantly in the 1st quarter the result reach 25 : 17, its a surprising lead from us, while the Kings is trailing.

“Seems like they going to change tactics…” Frankie

“Yeah..”

“We going to be careful, since Pangiran seems to be not the only one that is really good in that team..”

“I don’t think so because there must be someone there…”

“Coach what do you think?”

“Just one word for all of you…” Coach David is giving us a simple advice.

“win…that is all, just win it because this might be our opportunity”

We switch our formation, and this time resting Frankie and Peter,

“Centre - Fredickson, Point Guard - Jackson, Power forward - Thiru, forward - Long Man, shooting guard - me”

The 2nd quarter, we start the game, Fredickson seems having problems with Wesley and they gain momentum, in just 5 mins of the game the result is 32 : 30. Seems Wesley is really the main man for their attacks. Thiru pass the ball to Jackson and makes the attack only been pressured by Pangiran and 2 of the players. Jackson pass back to Fredickson and throw it to me, I took the shot and it went in again.

“35 :30!!”

“SIGMA is really good!!”

Pangiran then pass to Wesley where he overpowered Fredickson in strength and he dunk it.

“35 : 30!!”

Long man steals the ball from Pangiran and he pass to Jackson. He pass to Thiru and lay up the ball. We had a simple match at the moment where we lead to 55 : 42. Things from Kings gone bad to worst where they could not reach momentum, but I had a bad feeling about this. Until the end of the first half. Our score is 87 : 69.

During half time, Coach David is thinking of something where he wanted to said to us that we did not expect.

“After this they will catch up and making sure that we will not reach another point again.”

“Meaning they playing us for fools eh…”

“Yes but since you did most of the 3 points they will look for other ways to stop you from taking the shot again….so I decide that you will be substitute on the 3rd quarter until the 4th quarter, I will switch you back.”

“Got it…”

“we need to observed this team, they haven’t yet shown their true colours…”

The team switch back to, Frankie - Centre, Long Man - shooting guard, Point guard - Jackson, Power forward - Thiru, small forward - Peter

We started for the 3rd quarter and things turns around for the Kings they started to gain momentum with Wesley controlling the board. Seems like they change the method of delivery, with Wesley at the centre while Pangiran is doing the scoring. Instantly change the result to

90 : 87 something Coach David predicted, he said to me

“They are playing poker now, waiting to release all the cards but we an ace in our sleeve, and that is you…we’ll wait for the 4 quarter for you to be in…”

“Got it..”

Peter is being restrain by Wesley while Long Man is struggling taking chances, but Frankie manage to contribute the scores, with his constant dunking. Jackson is getting tired, Peter is also getting tired

Thiru pass the ball to Frankie and he dunk it.

“101 : 97 !!”

We are leading but it seems there is something missing here. Then at that moment, Kings change its pace, and Wesley leading the way, Pangiran takes the shot while Wesley tried for rebound, I realise Frankie is making a mistake by pulling his shirt

“Don’t do it Frankie!!”

It went in for 3 points and a foul

“Team SIGMA foul, 2 penalty ball”

“Yeah!!!”

“Shit!!” Team SIGMA

“Get ready for the 4th quarter”

Wesley takes the shot, the first it went in, then Wesley take the shot again and it missed. Wesley rebound but Pangiran is in the open

“Block him!!”

Pangiran takes the shot and it went in

“101 : 104!!”

“An instant leading!!”

Team SIGMA is struggling with their tactics, Coach David is suddenly turn into a madman shouting at the team member.

“Don’t force it!! Take it to the flank!!”

I observed their games and finds out the reason King is good is because of Pangiran’s tactics.

“The brain of the team is him…the captain himself…”

“What are you talking about?” Coach David

“I’ll give them that for this quarter”

The lead increase by 104 : 120 a lead that is really far from. I wonder how would we do this but I remember what Arie and Yon told me

“They always panicked at the last moment, use that…”

“Coach…”

“Yeah?”

“Looks like I’m going to make sure that we’ll win this…”

“yeah…”

3rd quarter ended and I went in replacing Long Man

“Go get em captain!! They really outplayed us…”

“captain…”

“You guys focus on maintaining supply, while me and Peter get this done…”

“Captain!!! They really outsmarted us!!”

“Yeah…if you want to be the ace you’ve got to be like that”

King’s is over confident now, I saw Wesley got the ball and I took it, and speed through

“Stop him!!!”

After that day, the league is now home to ace’s that will be listed with National team. I instantly taken the shot and it went in

“107 : 120!!”

“Looks like the ace taking the initiative!!”

Mariam and Amin is cheering for SIGMA, I ain’t going to disappoint them. Pangiran tried to pass only to be tricked by me unnoticed and I took the ball again and taken the shot for 3 points, it went in again

“110 : 120!!”

Pangiran and Wesley is blocking me,

“Seems two of the best player against one of the best in the league is head to head with no space for him to move!!”

I lowered my dribbling

“That is a impressive technique…”Pangiran

Wesley suddenly tried to take the ball and purposely let him hit me he fell down I saw some space and I took the shot it went in

“112 : 120!!”

“Foul team Kings, 2 points penalty!!”

“Shit!! Don’t force it Wesley!!”

“Sorry bos!!”

I took the shot it went in but the second shot I purposely missed it and it bounce back,

“REBOUND!!!” Frankie manage to rebound and pass it to me

“Block him!!!” I took the shot, I replicate their tactics it went in

“116 : 120!!”

“Whoa!! TEAM SIGMA IS ON FIRE NOW!!!”

“4 points difference!!”

But the time is only 5 mins, but plenty of time to get it back.

Both supporter cheering for their teams, things get even exciting. Yon the team member is there as well.

Pangiran pass to one of the players

“Jonny!!” I steal it and taken the shot for 3 points and it went in, their passing is getting sluggish and easily predictable. Pangiran start to get tired from the long run while the others is struggling to get form. Only Frankie, Thiru and me is the only one that is still could run.

“119 :120!!”

“They getting close to a tie!!”

Thiru then asked me to run.

“Alley-oop?”

“On it!!” I speed through and Thiru throw as hard as he could while speed pass through them.

“Stop him!!”

Wesley and Pangiran could not catch me. And I slam dunk it, the board is shaken

“121 : 120!!”

“SIGMA IS LEADING AGAIN!! WHAT A COMEBACK!!”

This is getting fun, Frankie pass the ball to me and I pass to Jackson head towards the basket, Team Kings is getting slower, and their Coach is shouting like a madman trying to make constant changes in the tactics, but its not working because they are in our momentum.

Peter heads front and Jackson makes the pass, Peter lay-up and it went in.

“YEAH!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!” Peter is really fired up, he doesn’t look tired anymore.

“123 : 120!!”

Looks like their unbeaten run is going down by us this time.

Pangiran is rushing towards the basket while Frankie block it and pass it to me, I weave through the defence line and takes the shot for 3 points at the side of the court it went in

“126 :120!!”

1 minute left for the game and we are still pushing it and increasing the lead to 135 : 125, the cheering for the Kings is started to slow down, and last 10 second, Frankie lead the final blow. Which he slam dunk it. And the whistle blow

“137 : 125!!”

“SIGMA WINS!!! THAT IS ALL FOLKS!! WHAT A GAME IT IS TODAY!!”

Journalist interviewed Coach David and Team Kings Coach in the match conference. I couldn’t hear anything because I’m just getting poof out from the intense game. Pangiran and Wesley approach me

“That is some run…” Pangiran

“That is amazing sir!!” Wesley

“Yeah, you guys are awesome too…”

“Well its our loss, we shall meet again…” we both shake hands. Amin and Mariam head towards me and she hugged me while I’m sweating.

“That is some crazy comeback there!!”

“Overall your team is controlling the game!!”

“Nah, let go home…I’m tired…”

One of the journalist approach me.

“You must be Alex…I’m Selvi, ESPN Malaysia”

ESPN is here as well?

“Yeah I am”

“Your team here is the newcomer from here but what I’m fascinated is that the club started by you right?”

“uh…no we have a team before but it wasn’t that active, just basically we revived it…”

“Are you the one that revived it?” I plan to avoid to this and I tell her another name

“Maybe you could talk to Coach David and Frankie there, he is one of the founder there…”

“Uh…okay…” she leave to meet Frankie,

“Come on!! Lets get out of here!!”

“Hahahah….😅” Amin

“What a joker…😑 that was your chance in the limelight!!” Mariam

“Just shut up…come on lets go!!” I pull the two and head to our bikes. Selvi shouted at us

“Hey Mr Alex wait!!!” We started the bike and leave

“Sorry!! Just talk to Coach David about the club!!! See ya!!!”

“Wait!!”

We reach home, its almost Maghreb, as promise we reach in time. While we break our fasting. Mariam open the tv and she open the ESPN Malaysia channel. Selvi is on TV, Mariam looked at me😏

“See told ya, you going to be famous…”

“Shut up…”

“An amazing game this evening where the Daggers outplayed the Kings, the Kings could even turn the tides over, it ended with 137 : 125 a 12 points difference between the team… I manage to get a hold of the captain but he is quite a private person….but all of their team members knows that he is the one that started it, Man of the Match awards is given to Alex as the key players that led to this victory… back to you…”

“kukuku…told ya…”

“See, I told you that you could do this…” mom

“uhh…”

“darling….” She suddenly closed to me, this is getting annoying. We saw again from the TV for the rankings

MBSPL (Malaysian Basketball Semi-Pro League)

Sabah region

“Yes!!” Amin

“We are on the top 4 in the league!!” Mariam

“Wow!!”

“Hey Mar, its our turn you know for the basketball games soon..” Priscilla

“Can’t wait..” Mariam

We hang around, Mom called me that someone is calling me, I pick up the phone and its Coach David

“Hey seems we pass through the hardest hurdle, the next two games you just rest because it will be the Sharks and Eagles. You and Chong will rest, while the others will handle it, Chong is still not fit to play…”

“Got it..”

Looks like I’ve got a 2 day break. Maybe its a good time for me just sleep for the whole day starting tomorrow. Amin is practicing his guitar, while Mariam and Priscilla is training for the basketball all girls championship. Leaving me here doing nothing, with a lot of thing that I have gone through I just need some beauty sleep. Mom is also resting, Hana is with Sam and Tama, while Hazlan is accompanying Tama. 

Sylvia however is at the kitchen cleaning the plates, well I head to a hidden room where I’ve always wanted some privacy, mom’s storage room.