Grand Finals! Akira vs Tatum - Part3(final)

The final quarter began with the Green Cavs firmly in control, their lead stretching to double digits. The scoreboard read:

Brave Eagles 25 - 32 Green Cavs School

Coach Mark's voice was a steady anchor as he rallied his team during the break. "We've come back from bigger deficits. Stay focused, play smart, and let's push through."

Akira, though exhausted, nodded with a fiery determination. As the game resumed, he took a deep breath, channeling all his energy into the task ahead. The crowd, sensing the tension, watched in anticipation as the Brave Eagles took the court.

I don't want to lose, I would hate myself if I lost here... I can feel the heat of the crowd, the feeling of being the center of the court.

A teammate passes the ball to Akira.

I can feel the bounce of the ball, my breathing is lighter…

Akira closed his eyes for a second, remembering the words that his father told a year ago. "Akira, all the best players in history have something in common, all of them, when the game is tough, when the people need it, stand out in the game. They play better in hard games, are decisive. Every ball needs to be converted into a point."

He's right, now it's time to prove myself, to everyone.

Akira was different, his look was absolutely calm, like he was staring at a waterfall for hours, the blue in his eyes got intense, almost escaping his iris and getting into the world. His movements were sharper, his decisions quicker. It was as if he had tapped into another level of play, a zone where fatigue ceased to matter and every move was executed with near-perfect precision.

I can feel it.

He dribbled past defenders with blinding speed, making passes that seemed to defy logic. His shots were almost effortless, each one finding its mark with incredible accuracy. The Brave Eagles began to chip away at the Green Cavs' lead.

A voice in my head, telling me what to do.

The crowd's excitement grew with each play, their cheers rising in volume as Akira orchestrated the comeback. He executed a dazzling behind-the-back pass to a teammate for a quick score.

It's my intuition, purest and most instantaneous intuition, sounding like a monster inside my head.

He stole the ball from a Green Cavs player, he almost teleported in the common view and raced down the court, finishing with a fast layup that brought the Brave Eagles within striking distance.

The game was now a fierce back-and-forth battle. Tatum, increasingly focused, matched Akira's intensity with each possession. The scoreboard reflected the tight contest:

With less than a minute left, the Brave Eagles had managed to close the gap significantly. Akira, with an almost supernatural energy, made a series of clutch plays, including a step-back three-pointer that tied the game.

Brave Eagles 40 - 40 Green Cavs School

The crowd was on its feet, roaring with excitement as the game reached its climax. Tatum, determined to secure victory, responded with a critical jump shot that put the Green Cavs back in the lead.

The Brave Eagles, undeterred, pushed forward with renewed vigor. Akira drove through the defense, making a spectacular play to give his team a one-point lead.

The Green Cavs quickly regained possession and scored, putting them back in the lead with just seconds remaining on the clock.

"Dammit! Sorry guys!" One of Akira's teammates punched his own head.

Brave Eagles 45 - 46 Green Cavs School

With the clock winding down, the Brave Eagles had one last chance. The crowd's anticipation was palpable, their breaths held in unison. Akira took the ball, his eyes locked on Tatum, who was set to defend.

Tatum, fully aware of Akira's abilities, focused intensely. He watched every movement, counting Akira's breaths, preparing for the inevitable play. The seconds ticked away, and Akira faced a wall of defenders. He saw an opportunity—a small opening among the chaos.

With the clock showing 5 seconds left, Akira faked a pass, executing a dazzling reverse bounce off the ground. The ball returned to his hands, and with Tatum leaping to block, Akira had only 0.3 seconds left on the clock. Without even looking at the basket, shot with one hand, and the ball soared towards the hoop.

In that fraction of a second, the gym was silent. The ball hit the glass, then bounced gently into the net.

Brave Eagles 47 - 46 Green Cavs School

The silence was immediately shattered by an eruption of cheers. The crowd exploded, their voices blending into a thunderous roar of astonishment and joy. The Brave Eagles had achieved an unbelievable victory.

Akira stood on the court, panting and drenched in sweat.

What was that… My hands are shaking, my vision is blurred.

His teammates rushed to him, lifting him in triumph. Coach Mark beamed with pride, and even the Green Cavs could only admire the sheer brilliance of the final play.

Tatum, despite his disappointment, approached Akira, extending a hand.

"That was incredible, I've never seen a play like that" he said, respect evident in his voice.

Akira shook his hand firmly.

"Thanks, man. You played a hell of a game."

As the final buzzer echoed through the gym, the Brave Eagles celebrated their hard-fought victory. The scoreboard flashed the final score, and the crowd's cheers continued to reverberate throughout the arena.

The captain of Brave Eagles raises the trophy, and all the team cheer with him, the captain then delivers the trophy to Akira, who was already holding the tournament MVP trophy.

Final Score

Brave Eagles 47 - Green Cavs School 46

MVP: Akira Kingsley.

Tournament MVP: Akira Kingsley.