....
[TIME LEFT: 00:30:05]
The entire hostel was filled with excitement that Sunday afternoon when Brian got up late. He stared at his clock 29 minutes left.
Boreal let out an exasperated sigh as he proceeded to take his bath. He put on his black Jersey, strapped his sneakers and let out another sigh.
"You seem really nervous," said Kaythleen "I am , I am Katie. I don't know if we can win given the little time we've had to practice"
" Believe in yourself. Your debut match doesn't win the trophy"
"That's true," said Brian. " See you later, Katie".
...
THE BIENNIAL SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP
The sports facility was bustling with life as people took seats to watch the basketball match.
Behind the scenes in the locker room, the Emperors dressed up, switching from their random colours to the golden Jerseys provided for them.
"God, I'm scared," said Tobby
"Don't be, I have faith, we'll win and if we don't, the debut match doesn't win the trophy. So let's go out there and do our best" said Benaiah as he strapped on the captain's armband to his right wrist
[TIME LEFT :00:00:59]
The teams began to file out, captain's first and centre last.
"Finally, the first International game of thr session," commented the commentator.
A brief silence followed and the squeak of sneakers on polished hardwood echoed through the stadium as the teams took their positions. Immediately, the crowd's cheers filled the air breaking the silence.
.... Jump Ball
The two centers met at midcourt.
The referee's whistle cut through the arena.
Joseph got to the ball first and tipped it cleanly to Pius. Almost instantly, the Heatwaves flowed into attack, moving as if they had already rehearsed this moment a hundred times.
The Emperor's Box tightened.
Boreal froze for half a second.
Then the voice came.
Initiate an attack.
Observe Pius.
He is your priority.
Will he pass, drive, or pull up for three?
Boreal reacted at once, sliding into Pius' path.
Pius read him just as quickly.
The ball left his hands, snapping toward the shooting guard.
Pat-Rick pushed forward, gliding past Solomon with a delayed between-the-legs dribble. He slipped a bounce pass into the low post, where the power forward was already setting his feet.
Too slow.
Kingsley exploded into the lane and snatched the ball before it could reach James Bonplad.
One stride. Two.
At the top of the bucket, Kingsley kicked it out.
Boreal caught.
The Emperors surged as one, flooding toward the Heatwaves' Box. Matchups formed in an instant. Pius locked onto Boreal, eyes sharp, body low.
Pius was crafty. Fast.
If he dribbled, he would bleed the clock dry.
Boreal scanned the court instead.
Down in the corner, Solomon hovered near Benjamin.
Brian lifted a hand.
The pass came like a spear.
Benjamin reacted late. Solomon burst down the corner, barely reaching the ball before it slipped away.
Catch.
Release.
Nothing but net.
The facility detonated.
A perfect three.
No hesitation.
Joseph grabbed the inbound and fired the ball straight back to Pius, denying the Emperors any time to reset. The pace spiked.
That was when Boreal noticed it.
A shift.
The Heatwaves were reorganizing.
Pius slid into Brian's space as the team pressed into the Emperor's Box. Everyone was covered—except the shooting guard.
Pius leaned left.
Brian followed.
Too eagerly.
The ball whipped to Benjamin as Pius spun right, snapping into a clean step-back hesitation.
Boreal lunged late.
Caught off balance.
He cursed under his breath and crashed toward the shooting forward, who instantly redirected the ball back to Pius.
The Emperor's formation collapsed.
And the Heatwaves were already moving.
The ball came right back to Pius.
He slowed down his tempo and scanned the court.
His teammates spread immediately.
Joseph moved into the box with an aggressive tempo and stood side by side with Tobby.
Pius moved left, then right. Keenly observing, Boreal didn't flinch.
Then Pius stepped forward using Patrick as cover. Boreal slid over it, and matched up again with Pius.
Noticing this, Pius frowned and kicked the ball out to Benjamin.
Benjamin rose immediately for the three-point shot.
– Clang!
The ball rattled off the rim and bounced straight between the two centres.
Joseph was quicker, but Tobby locked arms with him.
Joseph took a step back and jumped.
– Whistle
And one.
The gym erupted once more as the Heatwaves returned back to their court
Boreal took the inbound from Kingsley and brought the ball up slow. He scanned the court and saw two paths.
One path was partially sealed by Patrick and Solomon, and the other, a silent path to Benaiah.
He waved past James and passed the ball to Benaiah down the wing. He jumped…
-Whistle-
Another basket.
The first quarter moved steadily — quick strikes and quick answers. Brian passed often. He was unexpectedly calm when pressured but Pius kept the team on edge while coordinating the Heatwaves.
Boreal stared at the captain band on Pius's hand. It suited him perfectly.
The buzzer sounded and the first quarter ended.
…
The Heatwaves pressed harder in the second quarter.
Brian scanned the court and crossed into his opponent's half, matching up with James.
He split a trap with a low dribble between the legs and flicked the ball ahead without looking.
– a cyclone pass
Solomon dashed forward and caught it in a stride, then drifted to the corner.
– Swish –
Another basket
The entire facility erupted again.
"You didn't look at that pass. How did you know that Solomon would reach?" asked Kingsley
"I didn't. I just pictured that he'd react," Brian replied
Pius picked up the inbound from Joseph
"Run," he said calmly, already moving forward.
The Heatwaves flowed like they had practiced it a hundred times.
Boreal matched up with Pius again
"You don't look nervous," he said to Boreal.
Brian didn't reply.
He pictured it again – Patrick moving sneakily behind Benaiah
Pius motioned to dribble but Boreal locked him down.
His eye caught Patrick in the corner, and he threw
– a quick swing –
but Benaiah reached it first and passed it to Kingsley, then Brian
"Fast break" He screamed
Pius and Joseph synced up immediately and locked down Benaiah's passing lanes.
"Shoot it," Pius whispered smiling
Boreal though a little off balance threw…
He and missed"
"As I thought, you're nervous."
Joseph picked up the ball and something struck in Boreal's head
"Tobby, hold him!" he exclaimed.
Pius began to move toward Joseph to open a path for him, but Boreal twirled behind him giving him some space.
The only available path was to Patrick .An overhead pass would have reached but Joseph released a chest pass - A costly mistake -
Boreal reacted quickly and reached the ball.
Benaiah and Solomon responded by moving down the court corners
An overhead pass to Benaiah and a 3-point shot gave the Emperors a two point lead.
The whistle came again, it was halftime
...
Boreal sat still, towel over his head
" We're doing well" said Tobby
" We're barely hanging " Kingsley replied coldly
" I agree with Kingsley on this" added Solo
"Let's just be positive the debut match won't win us the trophy"
...
The game was off to a rough start in the third quarter.
Patrick took the ball and tried to weave past
Solomon but Solomon wouldn't let him easily
He foiced his way past Solomon and slammed his elbow into Solomon's ribs
"That's a foul na! " Solo snapped
"Play on " Patrick retorted as he passed the ball to Joseph
Joseph set a screen that rattled Brian's ribs and scored
" You alright?" Benaiah asked
Brian nodded in response, catching his breath
"Next Play"
Pius stole an outlet pass
"You're slow" he said to Tobby finishing the layup.
Brian picked the inbound again and began pushing forward with Benaiah.
-Swish-
Brian landed another 3 point shot
"Tch!" sighed Pius
Brian turned back and caught sight of Joseph in their bucket
"Cover him!"
"You're not going to make it" responded Pius with a perfect long-ranged pass.
-Swish-
An effortless basket by Joseph...
The Heatwaves were clearly dominating and by the end of the quarter, they had a 5-point lead.
...
Down by 5,
Brian wiped his hands on his shorts and took the inbound pass
"Your game" muttered Kingsley as he set the screen
Pius crouched low grinning as usual
"You're not syncing again?"
Brian responded with a quick closed stance explosion, an instant cross then a bounce pass to Solomon, who returned the pass
"Take it!" He shouted from the wing
Brian saw Joseph step late
He kicked it out and...
-Swish-
Another Basket
"Yes" applauded Boreal to himself
Down by two. Every sound was beginning to feel louder and you could literally taste the tension in the air.
Pius took the ball
"You can see the lanes too right?"
"Bullshit!" Boreal responded
Benjamin opened up for Pius and a One two pass brought them up half-court
Suddenly, Pius stopped, he couldn't find a path, gambling he threw to James but Benaiah picked up the ball and launched it to Brian.
Pius reacted instinctively and marked Boreal but unknowingly gave him a little space to throw
"It's bait!, no, it's not!" was his immediate thought.
Tobby supported him, opening a new lane.
Tobby caught it and threw
-Swish...
it rebounded off the rim and was swallowed by the buzzer.
"I told you," said Pius as the heatwaves exploded in celebration.
Boreal stood still. He'd lost the gamble.
Kingsley put a hand on his shoulder.
"You played smart."
"Yeah, but it wasn't enough to win," he replied.
From the sideline, an extraordinary figure in a black hoodie watched him closely.
"Yeah," he said under his breath.
"He just doesn't know yet."
...