Tournament Recap:
The Governor's Cup was now deep in the double-elimination rounds.
Iron Tide had sent Flowstate to the lower bracket after a brutal match.
Steel Vipers, precise and quiet, had fallen to the Thunder Cats.
Now, two fallen squads would clash for survival.
Lose again, and it's over.
Win, and the dream lives another round.
Scene: Morning Light
The gym was almost empty except for the sound of a ball echoing against the backboard.
Teo was already there, sweat glistening in the morning haze.
Each bounce carried intent.
Not frustration anymore — focus.
He caught the rebound, pivoted, and passed to himself off the glass again.
A rhythm forming.
Not noise. Not chaos. Just control.
"Nice touch," Riki said, stepping in from the side door, barefoot as always.
Teo didn't look up. "You're early."
Riki smirked. "You're earlier."
He tossed Teo another ball. "Let's see if you finally listened to me and Thea this time."
Teo caught it in one hand. "You? Never. Her? Maybe."
Riki grinned. "Then show me. Triangle drill."
Scene: Practice
Flowstate lined up across the floor.
Riki on point. Drei on the wing. Teo at center.
Kio and Jax filling the corners like satellites in motion.
Riki clapped once. "No calls. No codes. Just flow."
Pass. Pivot. Cut.
Teo caught the ball high post — eyes scanning, not rushing.
A fake to Drei, a slip to Kio, clean layup.
Thea's voice cut through. "Better. You're reading faster now."
Bong entered, holding cups of taho like trophies. "Breakfast for champions."
Thea sighed. "That's sugar, not strategy."
Bong winked. "Energy's energy."
Riki grabbed a cup mid-pass. "Flowstate runs on chaos, carbs, and faith."
Thea jotted something on her clipboard. "If we make it through today, that's going on the shirts."
Scene: Pre-Game Locker Room
Governor's Cup, Lower Bracket.
Elimination match.
Flowstate vs. Steel Vipers.
The locker room felt heavier today — less laughter, more purpose.
Riki taped his fingers in silence.
Bong stretched. Kio checked his laces twice. Drei stared at the wall like it was part of the playbook.
Thea stepped forward. "The Vipers don't rush. They'll make you impatient. Don't bite."
She turned to Teo. "They'll try to isolate you against Brick. Stay grounded. See the floor."
Teo nodded once.
Riki cracked his knuckles. "We'll make them dance."
Coach Alvarez's voice cut through the hum. "You win this, you prove you belong here."
He looked at Teo. "You ready, big man?"
Teo's eyes didn't flinch. "Born ready."
Starting Five
Flowstate
PG — Riki Dela Peña (5'7): Rhythm master, chaos conductor
SG — Jax Santos (5'11): Slasher, tempo breaker
SF — Drei Reyes (6'3): Silent scorer, reads space
PF — Kio Manalo (6'1): Connector, rebound stabilizer
C — Teo Alvarado (7'1): Centerpiece, developing vision
Steel Vipers
PG — Enzo Villamor (5'10): Calm strategist
SG — Leo "Quick" Santiago (6'0): Catch-and-shoot scorer
SF — Adrian "Venom" Lao (6'2): Cold-blooded, patient, efficient
PF — Paolo Cabrera (6'0): Lockdown defender
C — Ramon "Brick" Dizon (6'4): Paint anchor
1st Quarter — Static Start
Whistle.
Teo wins the tip.
Riki sprints across halfcourt — quick dish to Drei, jumper up — clanks off.
The Vipers move slow.
Enzo dribbles like the floor belongs to him.
He feeds Venom on the elbow.
Fadeaway jumper. Swish.
Flowstate rushes, misses again.
The pace feels… wrong.
By the buzzer: Vipers 18 – Flowstate 12.
2nd Quarter — The Pulse Returns
Thea's clipboard smacked the bench. "You're chasing their rhythm. Make them chase yours."
Riki nodded. "Copy that."
He winked at Teo. "Let's mess up their metronome."
Next play: Riki dribbled midcourt, faked right, slipped a no-look bounce to Teo.
Teo didn't shoot — he pivoted, faked high, dropped the ball inside to Kio for the easy layup.
Crowd stirred.
Next sequence — same look, different outcome.
Teo saw Drei open before anyone moved.
Quick pass. Midrange. Net.
Flowstate found breath again.
Halftime: Vipers 33 – Flowstate 32.
3rd Quarter — Venom Strikes
Venom Lao warmed up like a storm.
Step-back midrange.
Cut baseline.
Pull-up three.
All net.
Flowstate countered in chaos.
Riki danced, dished, drove — feeding Teo every other play.
But instead of forcing dunks, Teo began seeing the floor — making pocket passes like a point guard in a giant's body.
The crowd started murmuring his name.
Still, Venom hit a buzzer-beater to close the quarter.
Vipers 55 – Flowstate 54.
4th Quarter — Steel Meets Flow
Timeout.
Thea's voice was steady. "They'll collapse on you, Teo. Bait it."
Riki smirked. "And then?"
Thea smiled faintly. "Then trust him."
Play resumes.
Venom isolates — stepback jumper — blocked by Teo's fingertips.
Gasps from the crowd.
Riki catches, runs the break — bounce pass to Drei, fake shot — lob to Teo — slam.
"FLOWSTATE! FLOWSTATE! FLOWSTATE!" the crowd roared.
Venom scores again. Tie game.
Final seconds ticking.
Riki glances at Teo. "Your call."
Teo nods.
Inbound — Drei to Teo at the high post.
The defense collapses.
He doesn't force it — just one pivot, one glance — bounce to Kio baseline.
Layup.
Buzzer.
Flowstate wins.
Postgame
Final: Flowstate 69 – Steel Vipers 67.
The team roared.
Riki leapt onto Teo's back mid-laugh. "You're not just tall anymore — you're dangerous."
Thea smiled from the sideline, finally closing her notebook.
"Vision and rhythm. That's what it looks like."
Teo stood at center court, chest rising, heartbeat syncing with the echo of the crowd.
For the first time, he didn't feel like he was catching up.
He was leading.
End of Chapter 18 — "Steel & Pulse"