The shriek of the buzzer cut through the roar of the gymnasium, marking the end of a grueling first quarter. The scoreboard glowed with the results of their brutal, close-quarters fight: Dasmariñas National High 15, Calamba West High 13. The players from Dasmariñas, their chests heaving and jerseys already dark with sweat, converged on the sideline. Coach Gutierrez awaited them, his expression a mask of intense calculation, his mind already dissecting every play and missed opportunity.
His voice was a calm, sharp instrument that sliced through their exhaustion.
"They're leaning on you, hard," he began, his eyes locking onto each player. "They're running a high screen to draw our center out, creating gaps, then attacking the weak side. They've spotted our slow rotation and they're punishing us for it."
He gave a firm, respectful nod to Tristan and Marco, who were gulping down water.
"You two set the tone and absorbed their first punch. Good work. But you're running on fumes. It's time for fresh legs and a different look. I need speed to counter their pace."
The substitutions were announced with the precision of a field commander deploying his assets.
"Mark Herras, you're in for Tristan. Your lateral quickness is our answer to Palano. John Manalo, you're on for Marco. I want you hunting for your shot off the screen—be aggressive. Daewoo Kim, you're subbing for Aiden; your job is to be an absolute pest on their best shooter. And Felix Tan, you're taking Ian's spot. You are our new anchor in the paint. Go disrupt everything."
A chorus of determined nods answered him. The trust in the coach's strategy was absolute.
Mark, John, Daewoo, and Felix stripped off their warm-ups and jogged onto the hardwood, a palpable shift in energy radiating from them. This wasn't just a substitution; it was a tactical overhaul. Mark's explosive speed, John's deadeye shooting, Daewoo's relentless defensive tenacity, and Felix's raw, intimidating athleticism promised a completely different kind of pressure. Across the court, Calamba West held firm, their starting five—Justin Palano, JC Mejia, Andrei Vicente, John Lloyd Mongan, and MJ Cariño—a statement of their unwavering confidence.
MJ Cariño slapped the ball, inbounding it to his point guard. Justin Palano received it and immediately pushed the tempo, a blur of blue and white heading upcourt. Mark Herras mirrored him instantly, his sneakers squeaking a high-pitched rhythm of defiance. He wasn't giving an inch.
But Palano was slick. A slight hesitation, a violent crossover dribble that seemed to pull the floor out from under Mark, and he had his space. Mark recovered with a desperate leap, but Palano's midrange jumper was already arcing perfectly, kissing the net without a sound.
Calamba West's momentum was short-lived. JC Mejia, trying to capitalize, fired a quick-release three from the wing. Out of nowhere, John Manalo exploded upwards, his timing impeccable, and swatted the ball out of the air. The rejection sent players scrambling.
Felix Tan, a titan amongst them, secured the loose ball and in the same motion, turned and fired a laser of an outlet pass to Mark, who was already streaking down the court. Mark caught it in stride, knifed through the lane as defenders collapsed, and elevated with a grace that defied the chaos. He lofted a soft teardrop floater over the desperate, outstretched arm of John Lloyd Mongan. It kissed the glass and fell through.
Dasmariñas 17 — Calamba West 15
The new unit was clicking. On the next possession, John and Daewoo executed a crisp pick-and-roll. As the defenders switched, John used the screen to create a sliver of daylight, pulling up and draining a silky-smooth midrange jumper.
Dasmariñas 19 — Calamba West 15
The defensive intensity was infectious. Felix became a wall in the paint, bodying up MJ Cariño, his physicality making every post-up an ordeal. On the bench, Gab, still cooling down, couldn't help but shout, his voice full of admiration.
"That's how you slow down a giant! Make him work for every inch!"
On the perimeter, Daewoo was a shadow, hounding JC Mejia, his active hands and quick feet forcing an off-balance, contested shot that clanged hard off the rim. Mark snatched the rebound and ignited the transition. The ball moved with purpose—a quick pass to John, who immediately swung it to a cutting Daewoo in the right corner.
Daewoo caught the ball in his shooting pocket. There was no hesitation. The form was pure, the release clean. The swish of the net sent a roar through the home crowd.
Mark jogged past him, a wide grin splitting his face as he slapped Daewoo's hand. "They left you open, man. Big mistake."
"This is our moment to shine," Daewoo shot back, his eyes burning with intensity.
From the bench, Tristan watched, a complex mix of pride and burning hunger swirling within him. He saw their strategy unfolding, and it was working beautifully.
But Calamba West was a champion-caliber team; they wouldn't break. Andrei Vicente answered with raw power, barreling into the lane like a freight train, absorbing the contact from Felix, and finishing with a tough layup. He drew the foul.
Dasmariñas 22 — Calamba West 17
The subsequent free throw was good.
Dasmariñas 22 — Calamba West 18
John Manalo took the reins again, his dribble a hypnotic rhythm. A slick crossover, a burst of speed past his defender, and he drew the help defense. At the last second, he kicked a sharp pass out to an open Mark on the wing, who calmly drilled the three-point jumper. The crowd's roar intensified.
Dasmariñas 25 — Calamba West 18
The response was immediate and brutal. Justin Palano dribbled aggressively down the court, found MJ Cariño sealing his man under the basket, and lobbed a perfect entry pass. Cariño rose above the rim, cocking the ball back before throwing it down with a force that made the entire backboard shudder. The dunk was a statement of raw dominance.
Dasmariñas 25 — Calamba West 20
The battle in the paint between Felix and Cariño escalated. Every rebound was a war.
"You're not getting past me without a fight," Felix grunted, leveraging his shoulder for position.
Suddenly, Daewoo, reading the passer's eyes like a predator, jumped the lane. He shot his hand out, intercepting the pass intended for JC Mejia and starting a one-man fast break that ended in an easy layup.
Marco clapped furiously from the bench. "Keep that pressure up, guys! Don't let them breathe!"
John, feeling his rhythm, used a swinging pick from Felix, faked a pass to the roller, and pulled up for another confident jumper. Swish.
Dasmariñas 29 — Calamba West 20
Yet, Calamba West refused to fade. A sharp cut from Andrei Vicente was rewarded with a perfect bounce pass from Palano, leading to another layup.
Dasmariñas 29 — Calamba West 22
With the quarter's clock bleeding away, Mark had the ball at the top of the key. He pulled up and launched a three-pointer. The shot was long, bouncing high off the back of the rim. A forest of arms reached for the sky, but it was Felix Tan who exploded upwards, his fingertips just managing to tap the ball, redirecting it from the hands of two Calamba West defenders. The tip went straight to Daewoo, who caught it with two seconds on the clock. He took one hard dribble and threw up a desperate layup as the final horn blared.
The ball banked off the glass and dropped through the net. The gym erupted.
Dasmariñas 31 — Calamba West 22
As the team jogged back to the huddle, buzzing with adrenaline, Coach Gutierrez met them with a stern but appreciative look.
"That! That's the fire I was looking for!" he said, his voice resonating with pride. "Great adjustments, great execution. That quarter was ours. But don't get complacent. They'll adjust at halftime. The second half is where battles like this are won."
Mark caught Tristan's eye and smiled, wiping sweat from his brow. "We're making our mark, every time we step out there."
Tristan nodded, his own fire rekindled by their performance. "You did more than hold the line. You pushed it forward," he said. "The fight's just begun. Let's go."