The gym felt heavier this time.
Fans crowded the bleachers, waving banners and shouting names, but there was tension in the noise — like the air itself remembered what happened last time.
Flowstate sat along the bench in their white and neon pink trim uniforms.
Iron Tide stretched across the court in fresh navy and silver.
Same teams. Different weight.
Riki spun the ball in his hands. "Déjà vu, huh?"
Drei nodded, tying his headband tighter. "Yeah. Only difference — they're out for blood."
Bong leaned in, grinning. "We'll serve it with rice."
Thea checked her clipboard, her tone calm but sharp. "Stay composed. They've adjusted. Wave's been hitting off-ball screens all morning."
Riki smirked. "Then we'll dance harder."
Starting Five
Flowstate
PG — Riki Dela Peña (5'7") — rhythm master, spark plug
SG — Jax Santos (5'11") — slasher, quick finisher
SF — Drei Reyes (6'3") — perimeter anchor, cool head
PF — Kio Manalo (6'1") — rebound link, glue man
C — Mateo "Teo" Alvarado (7'1") — tower, vision awakening
Iron Tide
PG — Renz Baldo (5'11") — calm controller
SG — Ian "Flash" Mendoza (5'9") — lightning quick
SF — Marco "Wave" Herrera (6'2") — captain, precise scorer
PF — Carlo "Clip" Santos (6'0") — enforcer
C — Ethan "Tank" Cruz (6'5") — paint anchor, vocal heart
1st Quarter — Echoes of Rhythm
Whistle.
Teo won the tip — easy. Riki snatched it midair, darted downcourt, step-back pass to Drei — jumper.
Swish. 2–0.
"Still sharp," Wave said, catching the inbound.
Iron Tide returned with surgical precision.
Tank's screens opened corners for Flash; Wave hit a three off balance — 2–3.
Then another fadeaway — 2–6.
Riki tried to match him — crossover, spin, dish to Teo, dunk.
But Wave's rhythm wasn't the same as before. It wasn't speed. It was timing.
He attacked when Flowstate inhaled — scored when they blinked.
By the buzzer, Flowstate was already chasing.
Iron Tide 21 – Flowstate 14.
Thea frowned from the bench. "He's studying you, Riki. Every tempo shift."
Riki exhaled. "Then I'll have to change the song."
2nd Quarter — Controlled Chaos
Bong and Niko checked in.
Bong smacked Riki's back. "Time to remix this beat, captain."
They pressed full court — Flowstate chaos, the kind that scared calm teams.
Niko stole a pass, dove for it, kicked to Bong — corner three. Bang!
Crowd erupted.
But Wave clapped once. "Alright. Let's see if you can keep tempo."
Iron Tide switched sets — backdoor cuts, midrange traps, double picks.
Clip and Tank took turns flattening Flowstate's screens.
Bodies hit the floor. The refs stayed silent.
Thea yelled, "No calls?!"
Coach Alvarez just muttered, "Governor's Cup. You know the drill."
Wave scored again, then assisted two straight.
Momentum flipped — precision beating energy.
Halftime: Iron Tide 38 – Flowstate 28.
Locker Room — Between Notes
Thea paced. "They're reading our movement. You're overcompensating for the rhythm."
Riki leaned back, towel over his head. "I can't outthink Wave if the refs keep swallowing whistles."
Drei looked up. "Then stop thinking. Trust the beat."
Teo's deep voice cut through the tension. "We'll adjust — triangle spacing, inside-out. Let me read from the high post."
Coach Alvarez nodded slowly. "Alright, Tower. Your call. Let's see it."
3rd Quarter — Flow Rebuilt
Riki started passing more. Less flash, more sync.
Teo caught top of key — pivot, bounce to Drei — swish.
Next possession — same setup, but a fake — Teo turned, slammed it.
Crowd gasped.
Wave's grin slipped.
Bong shouted from the bench, "Flowstate's surfing now, baby!"
But Wave answered coolly — pull-up, bang.
Then a steal.
Then a step-back three from the corner.
Momentum died again.
Thea's pencil snapped mid-note.
End of 3rd: Iron Tide 54 – Flowstate 49.
4th Quarter — When Rhythm Breaks
Riki hit an early floater, cutting the lead to three.
Then a foul on Clip — Flowstate ball.
Teo caught the inbound, quick fake, lob to Kio — layup.
One-point game.
Crowd chanting.
"FLOW-STATE! FLOW-STATE!"
But then, disaster.
Wave drove baseline, drew contact — whistle.
And-one.
Riki protested, hands out. "He jumped into me!"
Whistle again.
Technical.
Fifth foul. He froze.
Thea whispered, "Don't—"
But it was too late.
He slammed the ball against the floor — not in anger, just disbelief.
The ref pointed. "You're out."
Gym went silent.
Riki walked to the bench slowly. Drei stood up to meet him halfway, hand on his shoulder.
"Let it go, Riki. We'll finish it."
Final Two Minutes
Iron Tide led 67–60.
Teo inhaled. Everything slowed.
He saw angles — like the court itself was a diagram.
Riki's rhythm pulsed in his memory.
Teo caught the ball mid-post, spun, fake pass, hit Drei for the corner jumper. Swish.
Then a stop — block on Tank.
Rebound. Fast pass to Jax — layup.
Crowd back on their feet.
67–65.
Thirty seconds.
Wave dribbled out top, smirking.
Teo stepped up.
Wave drove left — stopped, pivoted — passed behind the back to Flash — bucket.
69–65.
Clock ran down.
Teo hit one last jumper from the elbow — clean — but too late.
BUZZER.
Aftermath
Iron Tide 69 – Flowstate 67.
No cheers. No outrage. Just exhaustion.
Both teams walked off with heads high.
Wave approached midcourt, extending a hand. "Guess even rhythm needs tuning."
Riki shook it, managing a grin. "Guess even systems can get cracked."
Thea gathered her notes, her expression unreadable. "Double elimination. We're still thrumming."
Bong nodded. "Losers' bracket redemption arc?"
Riki smirked faintly. "You know it."
Teo sat last, towel over his face, whispering just loud enough for Thea to hear:
"I saw everything that time. Every line. Every beat. Next time… I'll draw the rhythm."
The gym lights dimmed as Iron Tide's celebration echoed in the distance —
a reminder: Flowstate had made noise, but the tide had returned stronger.
End of Chapter 16 — "The Return Tide"