"Finals Game 1. Thank you po, Lord for allowing our team to reach as far as the finals. Thank you po for keeping us all healthy all the way, for giving us strength, the determination, for the amazing coaches, staff and teammates. You are the best po, at ngayon na nasa finals na po kami, humhingi po ulit kami ng lakas ng katawan, isipan at ng puso para po magawa namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya. We will do our very best for your glory. We offer all our games to You, Lord. This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen." Ate Cha initiated our prayer.
"Amen!" we all chorused in unison.
Wooo! Nasa finals na naman ako with a shining clean record! No loss for our team in this conference. We are facing the Army Lady Troopers in the finals. I'm feeling fidgety and nervous but extremely excited all at the same time.
"Okay ka lang, Daks?" Mika asked me.
"Siyempre! Medyo kinakabahan pero keri lang. First time ulit sa finals," I said.
"Okay lang yan. Ikaw pa ba, ikaw na nga halos tumalo dun sa team nila Alyssa nung semifinals, taga-block na lang halos ang trabaho ko. Hindi na ko binibigyan ni Kimmy kasi napapatay mo naman lahat," Mika said.
"OA ka naman, nandun pa rin naman si Ate Cha, tsaka si Kianna. At kung hindi mo naba-block si Valdez, makakapuntos at makakapuntos yun," I said.
"Dinidig mo naman lahat kaya hindi din siya nakakapuntos," Mika retorted.
"Oh kung tapos na kayong dalawang mag-utuan diyan. Halina't mag-stretch," Ate Abi butted in.
"Feelingera niyo naman, ako nagpanalo. Kaya magstretch na kayo diyan, kung hindi wala kayong bola sakin mamaya," Kim said.
"Girls, proceed with the stretching," Coach Noel instructed.
I looked for my stretch partner and started our drills.
"Asan si Thomas, Ars," Ate Cyd asked.
By the way, Tyrone is sitting at one corner of our dugout, babysitted by one of our assistant PTs.
"Susunod lang daw siya dito, malelate lang na konti," I answered.
"Ahhh... nakakapanibago ng very light, hindi umaaligid-aligid dito sa dugout si Thomas," Ate Cyd said.
"Na-miss mo si Thomas, Ate?" I asked.
"Selos ka naman," she retorted.
"Hindi ah," I said.
She smiled meaningfully, "Sabi mo eh."
After stretching, we did our usual drills and still there was no Thomas. Nasan na kaya yung lalaking yun?
"Ars, asan na si Thomas? Magsa-start na yung game. Nandun na sila Cienne sa labas, dun mo na lang pasamahin si Tyrone," Kim reminded.
"Sige, pwede rin. Paki-text namin si Cienne na sunduin si Ty dito. Dun ko na lang din papupuntahin si Thomas," I said.
"Asan na ba yun?" Carol asked.
"Ewan, hindi nagrereply eh," I said as I send another message to Thomas.
"DaughterF! Nandito na si Torres," Ate Abi said. She was the nearest to the door. "Kaso ibang Torres eh."
"Ha?" I said and turned to the door. Instead of Thomas, I saw a few more Torreses.
Standing by the door were Kuya Axel, Mariel and Katherine.
"Kuya," I said and walked towards them.
"Hello, Ate Ara," Katherine greeted.
"Hello, Kat. Hi Yiel, Kuya, nasan si Thomas??" I greeted back.
"Sorry Ara, medyo sumama kasi yung pakiramdam ni Thomas eh. Nagpupumilit pa nga sanang pumunta dito kasi wala daw kasama si Ty kaso hindi na pinayagan ni Mom. Kaya kami na lang muna bahala kay Tyrone, at gusto din ng girls na manuod ng game mo," Kuya Axel explained.
