DOUBLE PATTY BURGER
Malalakas na sigawan ang pumalibot sa buong home court ng Golden Lions.
It was my first time to watch a game on the enemy's home court. Every supporters and students from the Golden Lions wore something with a touch of gold and white. The cheerleaders from their team waived gold pom-poms in the air.
The supporters of the Black Wolves on the other hand showed their undying love and support and wore black and white matching the players' uniform. Halos kalahati ata ng mga estudyante ng school namin ay nandito para sumuporta at manood. Pakiramdam ko ay walang natira sa school.
The court is a full house. Sobrang init. Sobrang ingay. Halo halong sigawan at hiyawan.
Nakatayo na ang lahat ng manunuod. Ang mga estudyante sa bench, mga players sa side court pati ang mga coach ay kabadong kabado na sa kung ano ang kahihinatnan ng laro.
Pawisan at hingal na ang lahat ng players na matinding naglalaro sa loob ng court. They are on over time. Sobrang dikit ang laban ng magkalabang team.
Ang Golden Lions na ata ang may pinakamahigpit na depensa sa mga naunang nakalaban ng Black Wolves.
Napatingin ako sa direksiyon ni Niccolo. Kitang kita ko ang pagod niyang paghingal habang nag didribol ng bola. Pawisan na rin siya. Halos lahat ng puntos ay siya ang gumawa. Pero matindi pa rin ang opensang ginagawa ni Niccolo. Hindi inaalis ang mata sa kalabang nagbabantay sa kanya. Nasa labas siya ng three-point line ng court at pilit na hindi pinapalapit ng nagbabantay para hindi siya makagawa ng puntos.
Nakita kong napatingin si Niccolo sa direksiyon ng kinauupuan ko. I almost shouted at him to pay attention. His eyes didn't linger but it sent a message. Like it was a promise. A promise that he will not fail. That he'll win this game. I felt the loud drumming of my heart turned into that slow familiar hum. I clutched at my chest. This is driving me insane.
He dribble drived the ball to the inner part of the court. He forced his way in. Nataranta ang halos lahat ng player ng Golden Lions at halos iwanan na ang mga sari sarili nilang binabantayang player para lang harangan si Niccolo at mapigilang makagawa ng puntos.
But even five men couldn't stop the burning passion inside Niccolo. Wala silang nagawa kundi humabol at manood kung paano idinakdak ni Niccolo ang bola sa loob ng ring.
Nagsigawan at nagtalunan ang lahat ng players ng Black Wolves sa gilid ng bench they bumped chests, and fist punched the air. They all shouted at the top of their lungs.
When Niccolo regained the land from that dunk he shouted at his teammates, "Come on Wolves! We're taking the king of the jungle down!"
Lalo lang nagsigawan ang mga tao. I can't help myself but root for them and to shout alongside everyone else.
Wolves! Wolves! Wolves!
Some members of the Black Wolves on the benches even made a chorus of a hunting howl.
I can see some cheerleaders from the Golden Lions changing hearts as they watch and swoon for Niccolo. A girl even extended a hand as Niccolo passed by as if longing for him. Lalo tuloy nagkainitan ang cheerleaders ng Black Wolves at Golden Lions. Kung referee ang taga-awat sa mga nagkakainitang basketball players I think they should hire bouncers to stop these possesive girls from pulling each other's hair.
Napawi ang atensiyon ko ng maagaw ni Phillip ang bola at agad na pinasa kay Niccolo. Napatingin ako sa time clock ilang segundo na lang and they are down to 87 all.
Mabilis ang pag dribble ni Niccolo pabalik sa side nila ng court all the other players tailing him. He pushed his feet hard against the floor and launched himself in the air for an easy lay-up when Delos Santos jersey number 6 jumped with him and intentionally clashing on Niccolo's body for the last resort of a foul. A referee blowed his whistle before Niccolo's body came crushing down and hitting the floor upper body first.
