The halftime buzzer had faded moments ago, but the buzz inside the Dasmariñas Arena was far from gone. The crowd was roaring, the stakes high, hearts pounding for what promised to be a decisive third quarter in the Inter-Barangay Basketball League battle.
The scoreboard read:
Black Mambas 21 — White Rabbits 17
Coach Gutierrez gathered his starting five—the men who carried the hopes of Barangay Burol II: Tristan, Marco, Kyle, Gab, and Felix. Standing close to the team bench under the harsh arena lights, his voice carried calm authority.
"Listen closely, team. They will come out hard — faster, more physical. You've already shown grit, but this quarter will demand more. Control the pace, communicate relentlessly, and fight for every possession like it's your last. We hold the momentum here, or we risk losing the game."
Tristan glanced at each of his teammates, steel tempered with resolve reflected in their tired yet fierce eyes.
"Our heads stay clear. We execute as one. This quarter is ours," Tristan said, clenching his fist.
The whistle blew, and the third quarter roared to life.
10:00 — Tip-off and Opening Play
Jump ball went to the White Rabbits, and Samuel Javier quickly sprinted down the court, dribbling aggressively.
Announcer (voice booming):
"Welcome back, folks! The White Rabbits take possession to open the third quarter. They trail by four, but you can bet they plan to erase that quickly. Look how Javier drives with fire — can the Black Mambas respond?"
The White Rabbits executed a quick pick-and-roll at half-court, Javier faking a drive then kicking to Leo Santos on the wing. Santos caught a seamless pass and drained a three-pointer. The crowd reacted instantly — cheers mixed with gasps.
Score: Black Mambas 21 — White Rabbits 20
9:00 — Black Mambas Answer Back Quickly
Tristan took the ball up court deliberately, eyes flicking from defender to defender. He called for a screen from Felix near mid-court.
Using the screen, Tristan dribbled behind his back to evade the full-court press and passed to Marco streaking down the right wing.
Marco stepped into a quick step-back jumper — swish.
Announcer:
"Marco with ice in his veins! Perfect counter to that three — the Mambas showing nerves of steel early. The pace is blistering, folks!"
The Black Mambas fans in the stands erupted.
8:15 — Tight Defense and Hustle Plays
White Rabbits pressed high again. Javier broke Felix's initial defense and drove into the paint as the shot clock ticked down. Gab slid over in time for a contested block.
The ball bounced free and flipped into the hands of Javier, who raced to the other end. Sensing an opening, he hunted for an open teammate—he found Santos trailing and flipped a pass to him for a quick mid-range jumper. Swish.
Score: Black Mambas 23 — White Rabbits 23
Crowd noise escalated, tension rising. The crowd erupted into chants supporting their teams.
7:00 — Black Mambas Start Running Controlled Offense
Tristan called a timeout signal with a calm nod. The team reset quickly into a half-court offense, moving the ball with crisp precision.
Tristan drove left, faked a pass, then kicked the ball off to Kyle at the corner.
Kyle, using his quick feet, created separation and calmly sank a three-pointer.
Score: Black Mambas 26 — White Rabbits 23
Fans roared louder.
6:30 — Physicality Takes Hold
Felix backed into Leo Santos in the post, dribbling hard against the aggressive defense.
Felix vaulted upward for a tough layup, drawing a foul in the process.
He sank the free throw, energizing the Black Mambas' bench.
Announcer:
"Felix is showing why he's the backbone in the paint for the Mambas. Finishing through contact and drawing fouls—leads the defense and offense with equal ferocity!"
05:45 — White Rabbits Fight Back
The Rabbits answered with a fierce 5-0 run. Javier pushed the pace with a dizzying series of crossovers, slicing through the defense.
He flipped a no-look pass to Jackson Reyes, who dunked home with thunderous authority.
Score: Black Mambas 26 — White Rabbits 28
The arena buzzed with renewed excitement as the momentum shifted.
4:30 — Mambas Regroup for Offensive Push
Tristan paced the ball at the top of the key, calling out signals to teammates.
The Mambas executed a textbook pick-and-roll, with Felix setting a solid screen for Tristan.
Driving hard into the paint, Tristan passed out to Gab, waiting beyond the arc for an open three.
Gab caught it clean, raised his shot, and swished the ball smoothly through the net.
Score: Black Mambas 29 — White Rabbits 28
3:15 — Defensive Intensity Explodes
The White Rabbits accelerated their defensive pressure. Santos forced a tough turnover on Marco by intercepting a lob pass.
Javier sped on the fast break, but Gab hustled back to meet him at the rim, recording a clean block that elicited a standing ovation from the Black Mambas fans.
Announcer:
"What a spectacular block by Gab! That kind of hustle defense energizes the team and the crowd alike."
2:20 — Mambas Extend Their Lead
With the clock dipping under two minutes, Marco took command.
Receiving a tough double team, he slipped a sharp no-look pass to Kyle cutting to the rim.
Kyle finished with a smooth layup, extending the Mambas' advantage.
Score: Black Mambas 31 — White Rabbits 28
1:30 — White Rabbits Keep Fighting
Fueled by crowd support, Santos found space for a contested three-point attempt which hit the backboard and fell in.
Javier followed with a quick drive to the basket, drawing the foul and converting both free throws.
Score: Black Mambas 31 — White Rabbits 33
The crowd was electric, a crescendo of yelling and foot stomping echoing through the arena.
0:10 — Final Seconds of the Quarter
The last minute unfolded like a dramatic ballet.
Tristan dribbled past half-court, dragging defenders with him, then passed to Marco on the wing.
Marco faked a three, drove baseline, and kicked the ball to Felix behind the arc. Felix, unguarded briefly, launched a deep three.
…Swish!
Score: Black Mambas 34 — White Rabbits 33
The buzzer sounded just as the fans erupted into cheers and screams, the quarter ended with the Black Mambas clinging to a one-point lead.
The atmosphere was frenetic — Mambas fans waving black flags, White Rabbits supporters screaming solidarity chants.
Coach Gutierrez called the starters to the bench, voice calm but urgent.
"Good quarter, but tight. You've brought the fight — now hold onto it. Communicate on defense, cut off those passing lanes, and keep pushing the pace on offense. Every possession matters now."
Tristan wiped sweat from his brow, breathing deep.
"We held them off, but they're relentless. We have to stay disciplined."
Marco added, "Pressure's on, but we play our style."
Gab shrugged off exhaustion with a faint smile.
"We've got their number, just need to tighten up rebounds and communication."
Felix nodded firmly.
"We keep the paint locked down and hit our shots, we win this."
Announcer's Final Words as Third Quarter Wraps
"What a third quarter! The intensity, the skill, and the heart on display have electrified the arena. The Black Mambas clinging to a slender lead against the fierce White Rabbits. This tournament is shaping up to be an unforgettable battle — stay tuned as the final 10 minutes will decide who moves closer to championship glory."