Chapter 29: Lost Rino

At a certain school gym, the sound of loud shouts and echoing spikes rang at the entire court. A decent amount of spectators had their eyes peeled at the exhilarating performance before them. Occasionally they clap, sometimes they cheer and boo the other party.

Sweat flew eagerly in the middle of the sepak takraw court as Rino and his team are currently facing the current top team of Salazar College, who also happens to represent the municipality of Madridejos.

Dodo, also known as Doroteo, Leyte, and Sally, who are known for their impeccable teamwork is currently acing Rino's team by a huge margin. The battered looks of Rino and the dog-tired looks of Kurt and John were the result of their three-set match.

It was a match that Rino did not expect to happen. It was a match to decide whether to accept them or not as an additional talent reserve for Salazar College.

Unfortunately for Rino, they have never won a single set. The overwhelming performance of the Salazar College top regu pushed the kill button to their team all the time.

Not that Rino was not capable, but Kurt and John's decent-only performance was just not enough to put a good fight against the relentless barrage coming from the star players of the Salazar College.

The score is now 20 to 5 in favor of the Salazarian players.

"Learned your lesson yet?" Doroteo, the captain and best player of the Salazar College asked Rino who is currently kneeling with one leg on the floor for being too tired. Doroteo was an old sepak takraw player who is currently in his last year in college.

Rino's eyes were coldly staring back, his mind continued to secretly berate the former.

The performance was enough communication. They had been dominated ever since the start while Doroteo on the other end did not even drop a couple of sweat.

After recovering some strength, Rino stood back up and spoke,

"I know you guys are better than me. But if only I have a better team, I am pretty sure I can-"

"Me me me me. If only me that, if only this. You see that's exactly the problem with you Rino..." Doroteo interrupted,

"The problem is not your team, but your leadership. I admit you have a skill but remember this is a team sport, not a 'me sport'."

Rino felt like Doroteo's words choke him with the flavor of reality. He hates to admit it, but the latter was right.

John and Kurt may not be the best when it comes to their roles, but when it comes to training and effort, both of them never slacked at all.

They always followed him believing that he was a good sepak takraw leader despite his harsh style. They take his command with haste and adjusted as much as possible. In fact, their skills were not exactly that far from Rino aside from his domineering attitude.

But after hearing Rino subtly calling them a deadweight, Kurt and John could no take it anymore and looked at each other. Their eyes met and they both nodded at the same time.

They have both decided to stay away from Rino from now on. It was obvious from their increased distance from Rino's position.

Seeing this, Doroteo smirked at Rino.

"I know teamwork is good and attitude should as well. But what makes a score are not those flowery words but my powerful kicks and flexible body. You guys need me! Or should I say, 'us'!"

Rino's veins almost popped out of his neck as he continued to assert his value,

"Don't forget that you are going to graduate next year. What you really need is someone who can pick up the mantle your old players are about to drop. And I believe that's where I truly fit. In fact, your coach Bart had been nagging me to transfer to this school for the past three years. Now I just don't understand why you have to stop me from joining now. Do you want to miss this huge opportunity to get my talent?"

"You are right. Coach Bart did want you here. In fact, it was because I had been recommending for you." replied Doroteo before he turned his gaze at Leyte and Sally,

"Until I found these two gems from our neighboring island of Doong."

Seeing that Doroteo preferred the two extremely young-looking players, Rino could not help but retort,

"Those two? Hah! This is a joke, you are comparing my huge experience and capability with those two? They are only strong because you had been carrying them all this time. I doubt they can even win against me when I am at my peak!"

Smiling confidently, Doroteo decided to end the game, "Suit yourself and witness it yourself."

Doroteo said as he signaled for Rino to start. The last service happens to fall on Rino's side so Rino decided to give it his best shot and show just how strong he was. It was a serve he must win with all cost.

"throw it!" Rino beckoned at John at the side. The fiery gaze and crazy determination made John a little uncomfortable but still tossed the ball with a decent height.

"This is how its done newbies!" Rino shouted as he performed his best spike serve as he could. His foot arched from his back at a terrifying speed that his other foot eventually lifted up from the ground which is a violation.

Doroteo saw this but decided not to call. After all, this round is as good as beating actual sense to this proudful player.

PAAANG!~

The ball swiftly crossed the net safely with a speed of about 68 km/hour. A speed that can only be normally be seen at professional leagues.

Rino's aim was at a dead spot that would give the young players a supposedly impossible chase.

The moment the ball crossed the other side, the players were already moving towards the trajectory.

It was indeed fast but the receiving end was prepared. Leyte, the Salazar team's Striker quickly managed to execute a sliding foot to save the ball. The other player called Sally secured the save with a beautiful high toss towards the net. It was a signal for a kill.

All of this happened while Doroteo just watched in the middle of their own field. His eyes gleamed with nothing but pride and trust to his two new stars. Sally and Leyte are both young players from different islets surrounding the main island of Bantayan.

Their love of Sepak Takraw caused their lives to cross that eventually lead to their fateful friendship. Their hunger for the sport made them take the gamble of crossing their comfort zones from the small island and seek the real challenge at the main Bantayan island.

Their constant appearance and winning streak at the school sepak takraw competitions was the eventual reason for Doroteo to discover them and quickly offered them an opportunity to play for Salazar College.

Under Doroteo's guidance, together with their natural talent and love for the sport, it did not take long for the two to bloom and show terrifying improvement.

And after a year, they are now capable to stand against veteran players like Rino and his team. In fact, all that Doroteo needs to do is secure the serves, toss for them and let them spike it for a sure win. For this reason, Doroteo have never been able to go out lately aside from his trial with the legendary Takraw God Santi weeks ago.

PANGGG!~

There was a beautiful spark of dust from the striking shoe of Leyte as he sent the ball back towards Rino at an even faster speed. Not to mention the angle of trajectory was also aimed at a difficult position. It was a perfectly executed rolling spike!

Seeing that both Kurt and John had no plans to move judging from their clouded gazes, Rino knew that it is now all up to him. He quickly readjusted his position and tried to fight back only to realize that he missed his chance.

Shoooh~

"What!?"

The ball passed in between his leg like an agile cat escaping from his grasp. His eyes shook at the realization that a young boy managed to execute a swerving rolling spike right in front of his face!

PRRIIIIIIT!~

The referee declared the end of the game. The result was that all three set was won by Doroteo's team at a terrible gap of 10-21 for the first set, 8-21 to the second set and 5-21 to the third set.

Rino's eyebags were bulging with stress. He could not believe the series of his unfortunate matches this week. First he lost to Chiko's team, and despite its informal format, a win was still a win.

He truly believe that he should be able to redeem himself today only to be met with another failure.

"Is this karma?" he mumbled to himself with disbeliefef.

Unfortuantely for him, the bad news was not over.

"Congratulations for passing our tryouts. I can see that you have a good foundation and have the attitude we are looking for. Welcome to the Salazar Team!" It was the welcoming words coming from Doroteo to them. Except that he was only looking at Kurt and John.

"What about me?" he asked.

"I am sorry to say this, but you failed to pass this time Mr. Rino," Doroteo replied with a calm smile.

"This is madness! Bobo ka!? Have you gone blind!? Can't you see the quality of my performance!? I am a veteran! I can-"

"That is exactly the reason why Mr. Rino that I can't accept you. Your filthy mouth and thrash attitude will not take you anywhere. Have you ever asked yourself why you never get to reach the regional meet again?"

"It's simple! That's because I don't have the best team!" Rino replied with bulging veins.

Doroteo shook his head in helplessness and said, "Perhaps you need to stop playing sepak takraw and try to realize your mistake."

"Mistake my ass! I am out. Who needs this thrash school with thrash captain!? P*tang In* nyo!"

And just like that, Rino left the Salazar College while leaving his team behind.

He was flaring with anger and hate as he stomped his way out of the College whom he thought would give him the opportunity to show his real value.

"AAAAGH!" Rino shouted his rage to the sky as he slammed his own sepak takraw ball and the training bag he was carrying. Followed by a good punch or two to the wall was enough to make his fist bleed.

"You will see. I am not done yet." He muttered while gasping for air.

It took some time before he managed to calm down. Though his eyes were still filled with unclear vengeance.

Beep! beep!

A public utility jeepnet commonly found in the Philippines parked beside the highway calling for passengers. Rino took this as a sign to go home and maybe think things over again. He was about to go and ride when he instinctively looked back.

He looked back not at the school gate but at the sepak takraw ball laying near the wall. Rino looked at it and felt like it was calling back to him.

"What's the use of proving something? after all, I too am a trash."

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The jeepney signaled for him. Rino was about to step forward when he let go a huge sigh.

"I hate myself but I still love this game."

Rino reluctantly took his ball, put it in his backpack, and hurriedly ran towards the jeepney that was about to go.

What his next plans are, only he knows.

In the meantime, back at the court...

"Alright, boys! Listen up! We still have a couple of months to prepare for our first formal competition. Are you guys ready for the Municipal meet?!"

Doroteo excitedly shouted towards a group of fresh batch sepak takraw players. All with great potential that is about to pose a great challenge against Chiko and his team.