Chapter 41: Chapter 38 – Tournament week – last game of the qualifying rounds and a family dinner

After the commotion that Mariam make, I decide that to return back to the team, even though they wanted to let me rest until the big game, which is Wild Cats. Only one more game before the knockout stages. I was about to leave home and Mariam and Amin joining me to their game. Sylvia and Priscilla look at me, while mom sneering at me????

“At least I’m not bored with lovely ladies here..”

“Whatever…mom…”

“All the best…”

“Got it…”

We reach there to Likas where it's the home game of the Wild Cats. When meeting the team, Coach David tell us about the rankings.

MBSPL (Malaysian Basketball Semi-Pro League)

Sabah region

Daggers (SIGMA Institution) 5 win 2 draw (Qualified to the knockout stages) Wild Cats ( Sports school Likas) 5 win, 2 draw Saturn (SMK Putatan) 5 win, 2 draw Kings ( KK Highschool) 4 win, 1 lost, 2 draw Sharks (UITM- Sabah) 2 win,2 draw, 3 lost, Cavalry (ANZAC Insititution) 1 win, 3 draw 3 lost Eagles ( Borneo College) 1 win, 2 draw, 4 lost Raflessia (UMS) 3 draw, 4 lost (disqualified in the league)

Raflessia has been withdrawn from the league meaning the Marlins will join the game next year.

“We are really comfortable right now because we already qualified to the knockout stages.”

“Meaning that we don’t need a lot of key players…”

“yep because right now, Frankie, Thiru, Jackson, Chong and Danish is out right now because of fitness since you did not come the last game…”

Everyone look at me????

“The presence of our great captain is needed now. At least we have me Peter!!!”

Well he is all excited, while Mikhail critically pointed him down in last game.

“At least we all know who is the fastest to tire out…”

“Shut up!!” Peter

Everyone laugh while I said to them,

“I kinda bored if we going to let them win though would you be interested if we make a statement here? Even without our key players…”

“Alright!!!” Peter is fired up

So coach David set the team

Centre - Fredickson, Point guard - Devinson, Shooting guard - Mikhail, Power forward - Peter, forward - Long Man.

I started later because of Coach David wanted me to observed their play and Gabriel.

“Even since from the start of the league, he never miss”

“right….well….its started”

Fredickson took the ball and Devinson dribbles towards the 3 points but Mikhail is being guard by two players while Gabriel is blocking Peter. Devinson could not believed this but Coach David signal him to pass to Long Man

“Devinson pass to Long Man, he shoot it. The ball bounce back and Devinson shouted

“Rebound!!”

Fredickson height difference between Gabriel makes the game evenly match. But it all instant change when its the wild cats ball, Gabriel pass to one of the players, and they pass back to Gabriel where he takes the shot it went in perfectly

“ 0 : 2!!”

“That is some amazing shot…”

“Well then, let see some 3 points then…”

“that is something I don’t see in Gabriel…”

“Huh!?”
“Gabriel, is type to play safe and confident where he got it…plus he is leading the team forward even with average players they become a formidable team.”

Gabriel shouted at the team

“Focus on the game, don’t let those shooters get any chances to take the lead…”

Most of them are around 5’8, meaning that Devinson and Mikhail is the shortest. Mikhail got the ball and takes the shot, its been block by Gabriel and he took the ball again. Gabriel pass to the players and dribble through, Peter block it, but its a fake and pass to Gabriel now he taken the shot, it went in again.

“0 : 4!!”

“Looks like this games is the wild cats momentum!!”

From the first game it went into 1st quarter and its already 2 : 40, a huge margin. Coach David said to us during time out that Gabriel rely on its team, to makes the pass. Its the team that makes them strong.

Long man switch with and I took the captain armband, lets see if the this Gabriel is really that good what Arie told me about. What happen nexts is the sheer difference between Gabriel and me. Once Gabriel got the ball I steal it, and dribble quickly to the basket and taken the 3 points and it went in.

“5 : 40!!”

“Looks like Team Dagger ain’t backing out!!”

Looks like Coach David observation is spot on, they totally rely on Gabriel to make the flow.

“I guard Gabriel, you guys have fun make the scoresheet got it, don’t rely on me…”

“Got it Captain!!”

Gabriel got the ball but is stolen again by me and he stumble down, while I speed through to the board, Gabriel chase me and I taken the shot, but its a fake because is see Mikhail is open and he took the shot it went i.

“8 : 40!!”

We both high five and said to Mikhail

“Keep going!!”

“Got it Captain!!”

Counter after counter we manage to pick up the score sheet in the 2nd quarter where its almost half time 38 : 40 is the score sheet. Wild Cats supporters could not believed it. 1 minute left before half time, I pass to Devinson and he dribble pass through Peter where he lay up and score.

“40 : 40!!”

“What a comeback!!, the Dagger’s is already the most exciting team right now!!”

Amin and Mariam cheering us. While the Wild Cats supporters shouted

“Gabriel!!!”

“Come on!!! You could do this!!”

Gabriel is getting the shot and I manage to block him Wild Cats supporters turns silent, while Daggers small group supporters cheering us

“Nice block!!”
“don’t forget, Daggers have an ace, and that is our captain!!”

Sound of whistles ended the first half and we head back to our locker room. The Wild Cats is funded by the government to supplement basketball talents around Malaysia they do have decent players but great players such as Arie and Yon did not make it to the listing because of their academics. Coach David instruct us again

“Peter I need to rest you for the 3rd quarter later on the last quarter, you will switch with Long Man.”

“Got it!!”

“Fredickson!!”

“Yes sir!!”

“You are the only tall players among our team, make it count!!”

“Got it!!”

“Coach not fair they had the glory!!” Frankie

“You need to a long rest since the captain’s here, he will relieved your duties just for this game”

“Got it!!”

“You just need to support us!! Cheering us..”

“Captain, you just focus on Gabriel if you there, we will halted their firepower significantly”

“Got it”

We started the 2nd half, seems we gaining crowds. My family is here as well, including Sylvia and Priscilla. We started the game, Fredickson as usual manage to win every jump ball. The pass to Devinson and he dribbles back and pass to me, I took the 3 point shot it went in.

“43 : 40!!”

“Dagger’s ace is a shooter!!”

“We need to stop him!!”

But that was a diversion because my target is Gabriel. Gabriel got the ball and he dribbles towards, a pressure from me makes him unable to take the chance.

“So this is the real ace of the Daggers…is you…”

“Huh? Nope everyone here is an ace, so don’t assume that I’m that good.”

“First Arie now you…seems the scouting for the National teams seem to be off…”

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Gabriel is unable to take chances and pass to one of his players. Seems game is currently on a standoff because neither is manage to break through the defence. I held back because of handling Gabriel. He suddenly speed through and takes the shot, it bounce back and I shouted

“Rebound!!”

Peter manage to take it, and pass to Devinson and he started the counterattack. He speed towards the goal and two players block his way, and he pass back to Mikhail and he took the shot it went in

“45 : 40!!”

“Never seen wild cats been punk by bunch of nobodies!!”

Wild Cats is struggling right now. I’ve always wanted to see, the representative of the National team is, Arie did warn me about him, he strive while under pressure. Gabriel eyes suddenly changes and his method of delivery had also change. He pass to one of the players and Gabriel suddenly one on one against me.

“The truth is, you like Yon and Arie which I’m pretty sure you could beat me one on one..but this is team game!!”

He pass to one of the players and taken the shot, it went in

“45 : 42!!”

They run again, and it went in again for the goals, Gabriel got the space and he took it and went in.

“45 :44!!”

Coach David said that they starting to move to their tempo and started to enter the game in an evenly match. Both supporter is cheering each team,

The game is now exciting as ever, non stop scoring until 4 quarter the result is 120 : 115, Peter started to fatigue from the intense game, Mikhail and Devinson also could not manage to pull further. Coach David then switch Mikhail to Long Man, switching me to Shooting guard. In the last min of the game. Gabriel takes the shot and it went in

“120 :117!!”

I took the chance and increase the difference, Devinson pass to me and I took it and it went for 3 points

“123 : 117!!”

“6 points difference!!”

Gabriel take the attack and started to get inconsistent, I took the 3 points and it went in

“123 : 120!!”

Gabriel pass the ball to one of the players and I steal the ball and pass to Peter, I shouted at him

“Dunk it!!”

“10,9,8,7,6,5,4..!!!”

Peter charges and he dunk it.

“125 : 120!!”

Whistle blow and that is end of the match making us the winner. This is the Wild Cats first defeat in their home turf and in the league.

“YEAH!!!!!!! I GOT TO DUNK IT!!!!”

Wild Cats could not believed what they saw. Gabriel approach me

“So this is the Dagger’s talisman, this is my defeat, next time it won’t be lucky to beat us again”

We shake hands

“Well, its a team match not one on one…”

“asshole…”

We both smile and winner of the qualifying round is the Daggers, team Saturn, Kings is also there after they completed their match.

MBSPL (Malaysian Basketball Semi-Pro League)

Sabah region

Daggers (SIGMA Institution) 6 win 2 draw (Qualified group A) Saturn (SMK Putatan) 6 win, 2 draw (qualified group B) Wild Cats ( Sports school Likas) 5 win, 2 draw, 1 lost (qualified group C) Kings ( KK Highschool) 4 win, 2 lost, 2 draw (qualified group D) Sharks (UITM- Sabah) 3 win,2 draw, 3 lost, Cavalry (ANZAC Insititution) 1 win, 3 draw 4 lost Raflessia (UMS) 1 win, 3 draw, 4 lost Eagles ( Borneo College) 1 win, 2 draw, 5 lost (disqualified from the league)

Seems Borneo college have been disqualified instead of Rafflessia, lucky them. Mr Rahman is with us and said to us

“Congrats to the team and plus looks like team Borneo College loss it position in the league….could not be a better feeling than that”

We been given awards for the match

“Best Shooter goes to Gabriel!!” Everyone is cheering for him.

“Best passer goes to Geoffrey!!” Sylvia cheering for him

“Best rebounder goes to Zuan!!” Not bad for my buddy

“Best dunker and dribbler goes to Alex!! Everyone is cheering, I felt someone is better

“Best Centre goes to Frankie!!” All of the SIGMA cheering for Frankie

“Best Point Guard goes to Geoffrey!!” Not bad, best passer

“Best Shooting guard goes to Chong!!” See told ya he is that good

“Best Forward goes to Arie!!” The ace of the team.

“Rookie of the league goes to Wesley!!” Yep he is that good

“MVP of the league has always been Arie but now the throne has been taken to Alex!!” Mom and Hana shouted in joy, I have been given a medal and Mariam took a picture of me. All of our team took a picture together with the other SIGMA student together, showing our league trophy.

Mr Rahman said to us, our sponsor for the dinner is from Frankie’s mom, everyone is invited. Because this is our first successful game for basketball. Team Saturn, Team Kings also joining for the dinner. When we arrived her mother is throwing a party and said to Frankie

“Son!! Never been soo proud of you now, today’s dinner is on me!!” Everyone is cheering. Zuan saw Priscilla and wanted to talk to her. While Geoffrey is talking to Sylvia, Mom and Hana with Sam is hanging around with Mr Rahman and Frankie’s mom.

Coach David is brought something unexpected a beer.

“There are kids! Here!!!”

One thing for sure is that Coach David is Frankie’s dad, I’m surprised by this.

“Thanks Alex this time my son had a future in the basketball career.”

“i think I will pass my captaincy to Frankie and Thiru..because I believed that this team is really strong..”

“But not without its talisman…that is you…”

“Yeah, my job is done..as long the basketball team is qualified, my job here is done…”

“We may need your help again…”

I look at the basketball team, and smile at them.

“I’m pretty sure you don’t need my help…”

“Well you still needed, you are part of the basketball team…”

“Thanks for the offer…” but I had another mission is preparing myself to LA, including my PMR examinations. Arie approach me

“Yo..”

“yo..” I think I had to tell him the truth

“This is the last time, I will be playing for this team because I had other things to settle after this..”

“You’re not the only one, I’ve got an entrance exam for the university of Osaka”

“Your team is really strong as well”

“Same goes to you, you have a balance team…”

“Team Saturn need to build a new team for the competition soon, with Yan and other seniors won’t be focusing on the game. Zuan going to have a headache just by that…”

“yeah…”

“Well then see ya..”

“yeah…” we shake hands, while we have dinner including break fasting. Mom approach me

“Seems my son here is being loner here eh? Why you not hanging around with your friends?”

“Nah…I just wanted to be alone for a while…”

“Enjoying life in school right?”

“Maybe…”

Suddenly Sylvia and Priscilla is getting close to me. Mariam asked them to sit together and she took a picture

“Hey!! What the hell!?”

“Just a memory for you….and Nat…kukuku” I’ve got a bad feeling about this. At least its fun with my friends and family…because they all are my family.

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