(State U vs Imperium Reborn — "The Return of the System")
Under the Bridge — Two Nights Later
Rain hadn't cooled the city — it just made the bridge sweat.
The concrete smelled like diesel and adrenaline; even the floodlights buzzed louder than usual.
Thea Cruz stood at the scorer's table, calm in the chaos.
The crowd pressed close — vendors, students, fishermen, even gamblers clutching folded pesos.
She lifted the mic.
"Quarterfinal match — Imperium Reborn versus State U."
Riki leaned on the railing, towel draped over his neck.
"Uni boys about to make us proud."
Bong Velasco grinned. "Or make memes."
Teo: "Either way, they'll trend."
Teams Enter
Imperium Reborn
PG — Raf Alcantara
SG — Nico "Prime" De Vera
PG/SG — Diether Alcaraz
Black-and-gold jerseys.
Shoes clean. Eyes colder. Every step in sync.
No music, no warm-ups — just order.
State U
PG — Drei Reyes
SG — Jax Santos
PF — Kiano "Kio" Manalo
No matching kits — just white tees and conviction.
Jax stretched his arms. "Man, they look like they're here for a photo op."
Drei smirked. "Good. Let's photobomb 'em."
Kio cracked his knuckles. "Class is in session."
Tip-Off
Whistle.
Kio tapped it to Drei.
Quick cut, pass to Jax.
Mid-range pull-up. Swish. 1–0 State U.
Riki shouted, "That's my varsity!"
Bong: "Bro, they actually practiced!"
Raf dribbled up — perfect tempo.
Diether glided into position without a word.
One dribble, step-back three. Splash. 1–3 Imperium.
Crowd murmured.
Bong: "He shot that like he was checking his pulse."
Thea: "That's because he was."
The System vs The Students
Imperium's movement was surgical.
Raf cut, Prime rotated, Diether filled the empty space before it even appeared.
Layup. 1–4.
Drei called out, "Switch high! No free corners!"
Kio banged shoulders with Prime, stole a rebound, kicked it back.
Jax three. Bang. 4–4.
Prime grinned. "Cute play. Who drew that up? Your coach?"
Drei: "Nope. Wi-Fi and faith."
Crowd: "OOHHHH!"
Next possession — Diether alone on top.
Kio stepped up. Double cross, half-spin, mid-range. Net. 4–6.
He didn't smile.
Didn't even blink.
Just turned back on defense.
Riki frowned. "He moves like a machine."
Thea quietly: "No. Like a metronome."
Mid-Game Clash
Jax hit a fadeaway. 6–6.
Prime replied instantly — corner three. 6–8.
Drei drove hard, spun, kissed it off glass. 7–8.
Crowd pounding the railing.
Raf slowed tempo, calling nothing.
Imperium shifted as one.
Diether cut, Prime screened, perfect bounce. Layup. 7–9.
Bong yelled, "They're running a playbook on gravel!"
Riki: "Call CHED, they brought a curriculum!"
Pressure Rises
State U started scrapping.
Kio set screens like walls.
Drei pushed pace, found Jax for a transition floater. 8–9.
Raf clapped once. Imperium froze into formation.
"Patience," he said.
Diether nodded. "Perfection."
Crossover. Step-through. Pull-up. Swish. 8–10.
Jax to Drei: "One stop and we own this."
They tried to trap Raf.
He split it.
Lob to Diether.
Reverse dunk. 8–11.
Post-Game
For a second — silence.
Then the bridge erupted.
Riki grinned through gritted teeth. "They played their hearts out."
Bong: "And got graded on a curve."
Drei walked off, jaw tight.
Prime patted his shoulder on the way out. "Nice scrimmage, Uni boy."
Drei: "Next semester, we flunk you."
Crowd roared.
Diether paused just long enough to look back at Thea.
He didn't speak — just nodded once, like he already knew what came next.
Thea scribbled the score. "Imperium Reborn advances."
Under her breath: "But the lesson isn't over."
Final Score: Imperium Reborn 11 – State U 8
End of Chapter 6 — "Quarterfinal Pressure."
(Next: Chapter 7 — Bridgefire: Concrete Beats vs Imperium Reborn.)