11 Chapter 11: Risk and Play

Yang was dumbstruck at the realization of his team's actual knowledge about sepak takraw. After listening to Chiko's confident remarks, he had great expectations about the latter's skills in the said sports only to be slapped with the truth - they are both complete newbies.

Seeing the silent commotion at the other side of the court, the proud Rino immediately noticed their silent panic and calmly said,

"Don't tell me you guys do not know how to play sepak takraw?"

"O-of course we do! Just give us a minute or two to plan our strategy to destroy your team!" Chiko quickly retorted before turning his back and faced the head-scratching Yang.

"Hey Yang, we got two minutes before the game starts. Can you tell us the basics of this sepak takraw? Just give us a short explanation of the rules and just trust us."

"Yeah yeah, I only heard about this sport and have never actually played it so yeah, hehe." Mark added followed by an innocent guilty chuckle.

Yang felt a piercing headache at the look of his two pathetic teammates. His chest felt like they were about to explode and he wanted to berate the two for their unfounded confidence. How does one even win a chess match without knowing the rules?

Unfortunately, Yang doesn't have much time to scold the two. He gulped a mouthful of saliva, calmed his nerve, and hurriedly asked,

"Are you sure you never played this sports before? What were you doing throughout your life then?"

Chiko smiled as if remembering something good and said rapidly, "Me? I take care of our farm, gather fruits and herbs in the morning, pasture our cows and goats, feed and collect poultry eggs, fishing at the river, plant crops like corn and sweet potatoes, help grandma at the house, and sell balut on the streets during noon and evening! I tried playing sepak takraw with the other children of my age but they refused to play because I smell hahaha!"

Yang turned to Gantes while massaging his head, "and you?"

Mark faintly said while looking a little embarrassed, "If you are asking my daily routing before, well, I simply snatch people's phone, expensive accessories, and purse. During the evening, I run drug errands. Oh yeah, I also go casual brawl every noon with the other street boys of Cebu. Never get the chance to play this game although it was greatly recommended to me by my good old friend Ricardo."

Yang's head ached even worst this time. He felt like all hopes are have dissolved to thin air. However, he still managed to regain his calm considering the two blokes before him is his teammates and new friends. He needs to find a way to explain the rules as fast as possible,

"How about this, have you played volleyball before?" Yang hurriedly asked again.

"Haiiikyuu! I saw that cool anime on tv, of course, we know it!" Gantes immediately replied with sparkling eyes.

"If it's volleyball, I do have more ideas about it. Although I haven't played that game as well - soccer and basketball included." Chiko scratched his head while explaining.

Smiling faintly, Yang quickly said, "That is good enough. You can treat this game as if you are playing volleyball; however, we are only allowed to use our feet, knee, hand, chest, back, and head when touching the ball. The rest of the rules, we will learn along the way."

"Sound's clear to me." Chiko quickly had more idea on how to play and excitedly tightened his fist.

"I am not that really confident with using my feet, but I do know how to knock people with my head alone. It should be enough to play this game right?" Mark asked a little bit worried.

"Suit yourself. Chiko, I need you to stand inside the small quarter circle at the court's side just behind that guy. Your main role is the feeder which is to throw the ball to me during our turn." Yang said pointing at Kurt who was smiling confidently. Chiko understood his instruction and hurriedly ran to his position.

Then Yang turned to Gantes, pointed to the other empty half circle, and said, "You, pork-belly+, you can stand opposite Chiko's position on that side when it is our turn to serve. You will be spiker and I will play as our team's Tekong."

"Okay, but I am not porky," Gantes replied trotting his way towards his position beside him.

The game is set and it was finally teaming Madtaks's first time to play together. It was a battle between a completely newphite team versus a group of veteran players.

Although Rino was confident that he can crush Chiko's team, the only thing that actually worried him is if Chiko's score against the Takraw God was not a lucky shot but a result of pure skill. If that is the case, then it means his Captain position is truly at stake.

But before he let his doubts take over him, Rino was determined to find out the truth. And on this game, he will make sure to expose Chiko's true skill level.

"It appears to me that this is your time to play sepak takraw. I wonder if that previous confidence was just a fluke." Rino, mockingly said while walking towards the center. He pulled out a coin then looked at Chiko before asking, "Head or tails?"

"What? Are we gambling?" Chiko asked with a confused look.

Yang sighed, seemingly expecting it. He quickly walked towards the center and said, "It is head. We chose head."

"Head it is," Rino confirmed and was about to toss the coin.

"No! Tail! We go for the tail, how much is the minimum bet?!" Mark quickly added excitedly, his old gambling habits tingling again.

Yang sighed even heavier this time while massaging his head and explaining, "Mark, it is not gambling. The toss-coin is a method to decide who gets to serve first or choose their side of the court, while the loser makes the remaining choice."

"I see" Chiko and Gantes mumbled at the same time.

TING!~

The sound of the coin toss rang and the result quickly followed - it was tail.

"Looks like this coin knows who will win already. I chose this side of the court." Rino confidently said.

"We will do the first service then." Yang agreed and went back to his position.

"Hey! Farmboy! Here!" Rino shouted before throwing the sepak takraw ball made of synthetic rubber to Chiko. The latter calmly received and touched the sepak takraw ball for the first time.

"Wow, so this is the sepak takraw ball."

There were rough and solid edges at the ball's plastic surface caused by constant use. The yellow spherical object weighs about 175 grams. Its size was just big enough for Chiko's two hands to cover.

"First time touching the sepak takraw ball?" Kurt asked Chiko with a condescending gaze.

"Y-Yeah. It feels a little heavy for a plastic ball." Chiko honestly replied.

"Heh. Enjoy the moment then..." Kurt then proceeded to look at the sinister smile of Rino standing at the center circle and added,

"cause this will be your last..."

The game is set and the whole gym is all theirs. With no one else left to help in scoring and referee, they both agreed to score the whole game while playing themselves. Yes - this is a common thing for an unofficial sporting bout in the Philippines; where players will also serve as referees as long as both teams agree.

With everything in place, Rino and his team are now currently in their play mode. Wide confident smiles plastered on their faces while the opposing team before them was a total mess.

"Hey Yang! How do you want me to throw the ball? Is it high or low? Do you want me to add some spinning effect like in shaolin soccer?" Chiko asked at the flustered Yang.

"Shaolin Soccer my ass. Just try to throw it towards my where my hand signal is, also try to flick it higher and let's hope for the best." Yang replied with a little vien on his head almost popping out. Mark on the other side of their court is busy poking out his nose and flicking his booger like an ant.

"Noted then. Here we go!" Chiko quickly took a deep breath and recalled the scene during the sepak takraw event. Although he won't have a real first-hand experience of playing this game, at least he saw how they do it.

Chiko's mind focused on the body form of the feeder. How he coordinates his body control to perform the throw, reach a perfect curve, reaching perfect height before finally getting hit by the Tekong's feet.

"Hey, boys, watch this farmboy make a fool of himself," Rino whispered to the other two.

Then Chiko opened his eyes, locked them on the positioned right hand of Yang, and threw the ball with a high curve towards its direction.

Hoosh~

The ball left Chiko's hand towards Yang and the latter could not help but feel excited but nervous at the same time.

Today Yang's dream to play sepak takraw came true.