REN and The Heartless Devil

CHAPTER XLIV

The open court is packed. Anna and I are sitting just behind the player's bench. Five minutes and the game will start. I saw only six players on their team and that already includes Grae. Actually the league championship was already over. This game is just an exhibition game between the present and last year's champion. Nicolo's team was the former champion.

"Sino sa tingin mo ang mananalo?" I ask Anna casually. She looks nervous over something. "Hindi ko alam ate Ren magaling naman sina Kuya Nicolo at kuya Zeke pero masyadong madumi maglaro sina Andrew." So his name is Andrew, the guy earlier. Tss sa bibig nya pa lang na mayabang alam mo ng hindi gagawa ng maganda ang isang yun. " Paano nya nakilala si Grae?" I feel comfortable talking in Filipino with Anna. Not like when Grae is around I felt like any second he would burst out laughing. Tch! "Nagkalaban na sila dati." I just nod kahit hindi nya kita. 

The game starts and Grae is a bench player. One of the most challenging and least popular positions but at the same time really important to the success of the team. The best teams are those that have a strong bench to substitute key players anytime. Base on the way they do their play I can say na madumi nga maglaro yung kalaban. Intended physical assaults whenever they are on the referee's blind spot.

I've met the players earlier, Nicolo is the point guard their best ball handler and passer. Vince is the shooting guard or the wing, Jason is the small forward the most versatile member. Power forward is Bryan the team's most versatile traveler and lastly Austin their center, the tallest man in the team. In just a snap the first quarter ended on our favor 27-26 just a half shot difference.

"Ang sakit ng tyan ko, walangyang Joseph yun" I heard Vince complained while holding his hurt stomach. "Alam mo namang madumi maglaro mga yan, wag ka masyadong lumapit" Bryan patted his shoulder as if consoling him. "Kelan ka papasok Zeke?" Nicolo asked Grae na seryoso lang nakatingin sa kanila maybe his thinking of strategies that will work against a violent team. In my opinion they must face them head on or else baka isa-isa silang bumagsak mamaya.

"Kapag kailangan na. We need to maximized, our team only have one bench player and that's me. Kaya nyo pa naman di ba?" As if on que sabay sabay silang tumango. Of course, first quarter pa lang naman. I look at the other team, Andrew is smiling haughtily. Proud of his dirty tactics, what an ass.

The referee signaled the start of the second quarter, our team have no coach silang anim lang talaga ang nasa bench. I saw Andrew give some hand signal and immediately Jason was being double-teamed. Nicolo blocks one of them giving Jason the chance to shoot. He jumped and aims the ball to the net but one of the guys brusquely smacks the ball out of his hand. Alam kong ang lakas ng palo na yun, Jason falls off the ground elbow first. The crowd become silent only Jason's painful groaned is heard.

The referee call for a time out, dali daling nilapitan ng team si Jason napatayo na din kami ni Anna. Inalalayan nila si Jason pa upo sa bench. I saw a girl run to their bench maybe to help em' kasunod naman nya yung Sandra. " Punasan nyo muna yung pawis nya" I raise my brow over her remark. The hell, tutulong na nga lang ang arte pa. Jason's face is really in pain. Buti nalang inagaw ni Nicolo yung kit at sya na mismo ang gumamot.

The game resumed after three minutes. Nicolo pass the ball to Vince, he skillfully pass the ball to Grae when the opponent attempted to steal it. He shoots the ball confidently and the crowd roared. Tss mas malakas yung sigaw ni Sandra, I rolled my eyes heaven wards. Sinubukan ko nalang wag pansinin yung masakit sa tenga nyang boses. The game continue to heat up, good thing they are able to dodge the enemies underhanded attacks.