The next morning hit like hangover light — harsh and too early.
Teo was the first one in the gym.
He stood under the backboard, tracing the painted rectangle with his eyes.
The sound of the ball hitting the floor — thud, thud, thud — echoed like heartbeat and reminder.
The Crimson Sharks were up next, and Thea's voice from last night still rang in his head:
"Use your size to move the ball."
He caught his reflection in the glass.
Not alive in rhythm, not glowing — just there. Focused.
He dribbled once more, passed it hard off the glass, and caught the rebound in stride.
A whistle blew.
"Nice touch," Riki said, walking in barefoot with a grin. "You finally listening to me and Thea?"
Teo smirked. "You? Never. Her? Sometimes."
Riki tossed him another ball. "Then let's see both. Triangle drill."
Scene: Practice
Flowstate lined up in formation. Drei on the wing. Riki up top. Teo anchoring the paint.
Jax and Kio filled the corners, ready to cut.
Riki clapped once. "Move it, feel it. No numbers — just rhythm."
Pass. Pivot. Cut.
Teo caught it high, saw Drei slide in the corner, faked the pass, then dumped it down to Kio for the easy layup.
Thea, clipboard in hand, nodded. "Good. You're seeing the angles faster now."
Bong jogged in, carrying paper cups of taho. "Breakfast for geniuses."
Thea sighed. "That's not even real protein."
Bong winked. "It's emotional protein."
Riki grabbed one mid-drill. "Flowstate runs on sugar, chaos, and faith."
Thea wrote that down. "I'm putting that on the shirts if we survive this round."
Scene: Opponent Scouting
Later that afternoon, the team crowded around the gym's old projector.
Static flickered, then footage rolled — Crimson Sharks vs. Phantom Wolves.
Paulo "Razor" Mendoza — fearless, smooth, slicing through defenders like he owned the paint.
Every jumper had swagger. Every smirk had purpose.
"See that?" Thea said. "That's what confidence looks like when it's earned."
Riki leaned back. "He's good."
Drei crossed his arms. "He's better than good."
Kio squinted. "That guy's shot form looks like he's posing for a music video."
Riki grinned. "Then let's give him a remix."
Thea clicked pause. "Their forward rotation collapses on every drive. That's your window, Riki. And Teo—"
Teo nodded. "Stay low. Read the help. Pass out fast."
She smiled faintly. "Exactly."
Bong whispered, "You two should just get married already."
Thea threw a pen at him without looking.
Scene: Locker Room Before the Game
Game day.
Governor's Cup Round 2.
Carinderia breakfast long gone, energy high, nerves higher.
The gym smelled of new varnish and warm popcorn.
Crowd thicker this time — every game now meant survival.
Riki taped his fingers. "Double elimination. Lose this, we go home."
Bong pointed. "And lose that, Ate Bebang cuts our credit."
Jax stretched his legs. "All the motivation we need."
Thea stood in front of them, steady voice.
"Remember: The Sharks pressure the ball. Don't panic. Keep rhythm. Teo— trust your instincts. Riki— trust him."
Riki nodded, serious now. "Always."
The whistle from the tunnel echoed — the signal.
Teo stood, towering, rolling his shoulders.
He wasn't thinking of his father, the bills, or the rain.
Just the next play. The next pass. The next beat.
Scene: Court Entry
The crowd roared as they stepped into the light.
Flowstate — white jerseys with neon pink trim, gleaming under the gym's harsh lamps.
Crimson Sharks — deep red and black, sharp and composed.
Announcer voice cracked through the speakers:
"Second round of the Governor's Cup — Flowstate versus Crimson Sharks!"
Riki jogged forward, bouncing the ball between his legs, grinning toward the opposing bench.
Razor Mendoza just smirked back.
Thea watched from the sideline, clipboard pressed to her chest.
She could feel it — this game wasn't about flash anymore.
It was about rhythm, trust, and something that couldn't be drawn on paper.
The whistle blew.
End of Chapter 15 "Bite of the Crimson Sharks"