the march is on...

The next day.

He went to OKC with the team.

"Good Evening Everyone. This is Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner, welcome to the NCAA Div.1 Men's Basketball Tournament."

"Dan, do u know what is that time of the year?"

"Its…"

"March Madness."

"Tonight, the USC Trojans versus the Northern Iowa Panthers."

"Its a battle between 8 and 9 seeds of the Nation."

"Kevin, what are the keys in the game that each team needs to triumph against another?"

"USC is a perennial contender. And this year, the have a terrific team led by Rome Martinez-Smith."

"Rome Martinez-Smith. The one they call Splash." Dan reworded and made Splash important.

"Hahaha. That's right. He is a splash on his own. A sharpshooter who is averaging 41% from the Three point line. A good low post game. Most of all, he can shoot 3 and put the ball down."

"Averaging 18.8 points per game, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals and zero turn overs."

"He is a machine."

The commentators making Rome very attractive to the viewers at home. He must have Conditioned them, right? haha

"Boys! This is it! Win or go home."

"Compete out there and play for each other!"

"Follow the hours we spent in the gym. We will win this game!"

"Hustle and Defense."

"Together on three!'

"1 2 3"

"Defense!!!!!"

They stood in the court.

Soaking all the intensity and pressure.

Feeling the atmosphere of March Madness.

Shivers and chills.

They huddled in circle.

Rome in the middle.

"Our stage guys. This is our stage! We will win it all! Do u believe!!!!!"

"Believe!!!!!!"

Rome nodding and breathing uneven. Full of angst and fighting spirit.

"One Shining Moment guys!!! One shining moment! Its ours!!!"

"OURSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rome shouted.

As a bona fide Trojan, he will fight with no reserve today. He fought with these guys.

He must deliver.

"Rome. U start 2nd half."

"No problem coach. Ill just drink coffee then."

What happened to the speech??? Fuukkkkkkk Rome.

"Damn Rome. Where u get that cake?"

They knew the coffee but the cake? He is crazy.

"Shut up. They might hear. Want bite?"

"Hell yeah. I'm not playing anyway."

"Me too. hehe."

"We're in water refill area. Dont get noticed."

"Hmmm."

The game started.

The fans are giving Rome chills.

"What a crowd." He cursed.

He wanna not think about them but they're just too loud.

The 1st quarter is even.

The 2nd.

Well, how to put it this way, the Panthers are getting their shots but they just miss and there always miss steps and slip outs. While USC are just normal.

Rome is a cheater. Haha

40-35 at the end of the half.

Rome did stretching at the locker room.

"Rome. Create space first. Then pound them low post. Pick and roll with Nicki."

"I got it. Lets fight till the last second guys. Together!!!"

"Together!" They responded to Rome.

With his 99 number.

The body of Rome is so solid and so scary.

Even Nicki will sleep if there's body to body collision.

Unknowingly, he has become their leader.

Whenever they need his points, he will barrage 3 consecutive threes and hit impossible skyhooks and bank shots mostly like from the circus.

He concentrated and in bound the ball.

"Luck 40x." He whispered and the fruit covered all his team mates.

"Bad luck 10x" the other team.

He dont want people die in the game just because they slip from their sweat or swallow their mouth piece. Haha

"99 is in. This will be bad for Northern Iowa."

Kevin Harlan stated the fact.

First possession, Simmons passed to Rome.

Triple threat possession.

He plans to face up. Jab step to the right.

The defense didn't bite because they know he won't cross over.

"Lets try it."

Rome turned back. He dribbled and forced his way in the post.

The pivot foot is planted firmly.

He is turning left and right. Up and down.

He slides to the left.

"Chance."

He clips his arm and elbow round the defender. Space to take off.

SLAM DUNK!!!

"Hoooo!!!"

A loud chant and drums rolled after he destroyed the ring.

He landed and stared at the guy but did not say anything. No nothing.

He high five Simmons.

Then returned to defense.

He pointed to the USC students to celebrate the dunk.

With that, the crowd exploded again because he swiped the ball by tricking the PG he was returning to the other end. But no. he waited for the in bound play.

Haha

"Wake up."

Iowa's PG sleeping and thus Simmons stole the ball after his swipe from the inbound. Haha

Simmons controlled the ball and made a jumper but when he saw Rome waving to him, he kicked out to Rome.

"Nice."

Automatic.

He just rose in one single motion.

Splash!!!!

Kevin Harland excitedly shout.

"In just a minute, Smith scored 5 points. The lead of USC has ballooned to 10."

"Northern Iowa Panthers has to have an answer.

The game went on.

Play by play, Rome is slowly imprinting the quarter into his own show.

Scoring 10 points in the quarter but the lead is just 4.

Rome believes that the opposite team is good.

Playing defense to the PF who is taller than him by 3 inches and the body is thicker.

But he wasn't fazed.

He got superhuman strength.

Bang bang

Their bodies collided.

The other felt he hit a rock.

Then he passed the ball back outside.

The moment he did that, there were boos everywhere.

"Fuck. Im gonna kill u." The black kid said in anger.

Rome shrugged. "Chill man. I got nothin to do wit them hating u. U just soft."

Rome run around to create space.

Nicki shot the ball but hit the rim.

"Rebound." He screamed.

But Rome already beat him.

He jumped and slammed the ball.

"Put back slam! Goodness. He murdered X…."

"Welcome to ur Kodak moment."

Rome hang and jumped avoiding the big man who he bulldozed.

Rome showed his muscles to the fans.

"Yeah!!!" Nicki and Stephenson bumped fist and chest.

Other team mates too high five.

At the end of the game, USC won 69 to 60.

No suspense.

"Yeah! 2nd round baby!"

"USC USC USC USC!!"

"Trojans! trojans! trojans!!"

The team celebrated in the center court.