Reaching the Sky | ✓

12

I opened my eyes in an unfamiliar room, on my left is Coach Jurado pacing back and forth. Oh, I am inside the irfirmary.

"Coach. . ." Mabilis na napako sa akin ang kaniyang paningin. Lumapit siya at tinulungan ako makaupo.

"Masakit ba ang ulo mo?" Kumunot ang noo ko at pinakiramdaman ang sarili bago isang beses na umiling.

"Hindi po." Tumango siya sa akin. Napatingin ako sa orasan na nasa gilid. Malapit na matapos ang third quarter. Nakita ko siyang lumabas at nang makabalik siya ay suot na niya ang isang ngiti. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito.

I tied my shoe and walk back to the court like nothing happened. Coach scanned me but I gave him two thumbs up assuring him that I am all good. Tumango siya bago ako pinalapit. Pinaupo ako sa bench ibig sabihin ay makakapaglaro ako.

"Na-knock out ka dahil na rin daw sa pagod mo nang nagdaang araw. Sigurado ka bang kaya mong maglaro." Napalunok ako bago tumango. Gusto kong maglaro dahil next year ay hindi na ako makakalaro.

Hindi na kasi pinapayagan ng dean na mag-stay sa mga club teams ang mga graduating. Gusto niya focus na ang mga ito sa academics. Tumingin ako sa itaas at pinigilan ko ang pagbukas ng aking bibig. We are left behind my fifteen points.

Kaya pa namang habulin kaso mukhang pagod na sila. Nang pumasok ang fourth quarter ay balik na ako sa court. Nakangisi na naman si Satomil sa akin, hinintay pa ako pero pumunta ako kay captain.

"Strategy six tayo." Sambit niya nang makalapit ako. Tumango ako sa kaniya at nagsimula nang humabol sa iba. Nakuha ko ang bola at mabilis iyong ipinasa kay Funtillar, easy basket.

"Hindi ko expected na makakabalik ka pa. Akala ko mag-a-ala sleeping beauty ka na." Mayabang na sambit ni Satomil habang nag-di-dribble ng bola pero bago pa siya makapag-maneuver ay na-steal ko na ang bola.

"My senior said hello," I smirked as I maneuvered dribbling the ball from my left hand to right before passing it to Madrid. She is free so she made a two points.

"Thompson? Balita ko hindi nakakalaro sa inyo kapag mababa acads? Ano puro lang ba siya yabang?" Ngumisi ako pabalik sa kaniya at inabangan ang pagpapasa sa kaniya ng bola ng kakampi niya.

"Nah," I said before stealing the pass. I directed it to our captain who is just below the basket. "She's in Thailand. Under 18, in case you're really interested." Then I run back to the other end of the court to ready myself to defend.

I had a fist bump with our captain. The opponent is nine points ahead of us. Six minutes left for us.

"Really? When she's not even that good?" Angil sa akin ni Satomil. Si Ate Dennise Thompson ang pinakamagaling na shooting guard na nakilala ko, she never missed a shot and she can do it in every situation. As long as she wants to shoot, she will make it straight to the basket.

"Sabi nila, kapag inggit, pikit." I smirked before I lure her that I will jump but instead I made a step back before actually jumping and releasing the ball.

"Get back!" It's captain's turn to copy my line. I run back to the other side and had a high five with coach when I run past him.

"Alextre, three points!"

A time out was called by the team in gold and black. And when we came back, it is a do or die for both of us. This game is only the game one of 19 matches but winning this will boost the morale of the whole team.

And we practiced so hard to win this, to keep the title under our name. We will never disappoint. I heaved a heavy sigh as I release the ball, but unlike all the baskets I did before, I watched it until it went inside the hoops.