Our favorite place (Book 1 and 2)

Twenty-Six

Alyssa Valdez

Mika Reyes

Bea De Leon

Maddie Madayag

Jia Morado

Denden Lazaro

Dawn Macandilli

Ella De Jesus

Aby Marano

Majoy Baron

Kim Fajardo

Ara Galang

Tots Carlos

Kat Tolentino

Kyla Atienza

Risa Sato

Deanna Wong.

I stepped in front of them. "So I gathered you guys, because the national team manager, agreed on a charity game for "no child will be hungry" foundation. It will be us against Ate Ly's former team. 3BB."

I saw Jia's eyes gleam cause Nootsara was there. Her idol.

"Durog tayo nyan." Kyla said.

"With Ate Ly on our team, she should know some of their tactics. In that case, we should not be easily defeated. We go back to basics, connect with each other, watch some of their last games, work hard, and pray for a month."

They murmured. They must've not convinced by my words. I face palm my self and looked at Deanna who is watching me.

"It's for a good cause naman." Deanna said. "Serves as a comeback na den for us. We haven't played in the court full of Filipino supporters in years."

"Yes, if it's for the kids, after the match, win or loose, it'll be satisfying." Jia added.

"Yes!!" Bea shouted. We wait for her to say words of encouragement. "What they said." She pointed at me, Deanna and Jia.

The others blurted out of laughter.

"I know that this does not apply to all of us, especially lasallians, but, happy lang." I said that made the Ateneans and those who was under Coach Tai snicker.

They all nodded.

We finalized the team line up that night:

Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, Denden Lazaro, Mika Reyes, Aby Marano, Kat Tolentino and Me.

Others will still be on the team but will serve as subs.

I called sir Morris and he agrees.

We met coach Ramil and we started training.

It was actually not grueling as Coach Tai's training. We enjoyed playing with and against each other. The team, surprisingly, stuck together like a glue.

The day finally came and as per usual, they are intimidating.

Nootsara alone was making us nervous. But not Jia. She was excited and all. She gets to meet and to battle her idol.

"Deanna." I called her. She was outside the dug out. "Anong nangyari sayo? Parang nakakita ka ng multo."

"Huh?"

She looked shocked. "Anong nangyari?"

She looked left and right before whispering to me. "The game is fixed."

"What?"

"Jema, the game, this charity game, luto."

"What are you talking about Deanns?"