Day 5 arrived carrying pressure like fogโthick, unseen, and everywhere.
Crowds grew. Reporters buzzed. Everyone had one eye on the scoreboard and the other on their rivals.
But the joint team of Gubat and Iriga Valley? They kept moving forward, one match at a time.
๐ง Chess โ Randy's War of Wits
Randy was in his zoneโor at least pretending to be.
In the cool, quiet air of the tournament hall, he faced his quarterfinal opponent: a quiet girl from Naga with an emotionless stare and the tactical bite of a viper.
"This is worse than when Dane beat me at Karl's," Randy whispered to no one.
He remembered vividly: that night in Daet, when Dane defeated him without mercy. Then again at Karl's place, where he had demanded a rematchโฆ and lost again. Badly.
"Eri's win over me was painful," Randy often said. "But Dane'sโฆ was spiritual trauma."
Still, Randy played bold. Sacrificed pieces like a reckless poet. And somehow, it worked.
"Checkmate," he said.
His opponent frowned. "You're joking."
"I never joke during endgames," he grinned, then immediately second-guessed that statement.
His semifinal opponent was worse: a cocky guy from Sorsogon who smirked through every move.
"Crab Defense? Really?"
"Nope," Randy said. "It's the Crabby Defense. I'm crabby today."
He won. Barely. Possibly through confusion.
๐ธ Badminton โ Alona and Clarisse, Side by Side
The quarterfinals were smooth. Alona and Clarisse had fallen into a rhythmโfire and ice, reckless grace and cold precision.
"You still holding that grudge?" Alona teased during a timeout.
"Only if we lose," Clarisse muttered, then gave her a look that was almost a smile.
They didn't lose.
The semifinals were brutal. Three sets, the last one going 22โ20. But they came out drenched in sweat and pride.
๐ Volleyball โ Heart and Hammer
Gubat's core led the charge. Iriga's additionsโAimee, Mila, and short-but-savage Trixieโheld the lines like champions.
Their semifinal match went into five sets. Five.
When the last point landed, the team dropped to the court, hands to the ceiling.
"I think I saw my soul leave," someone whispered.
Coach Leia handed out water bottles like medals.
๐พ Tennis โ Sharp Tongues, Sharper Plays
Mira and Jomar, despite (or because of) their arguments, cruised into the semis.
Mira: "You almost ruined that rally."
Jomar: "No. I made it legendary."
They won.
Tasha and Noel, Iriga's mixed doubles pair, came back from a massive deficit with silent nods and calculated aggression.
The tennis teamโmostly Iriga players, with only Mira and Jomar from Gubatโwere on fire.
๐ Basketball โ Grit and Grind
This was Gubat's gameโliterally. Full squad.
But the Iriga additions added new flavor. Their timing, defense, and style pushed the game into overdrive.
The semifinal was intense. 56โ55, the final score. The crowd screamed.
Dane was quiet after the game, thoughtful. Karl slapped his back.
"You alright?"
"Just saving energy," Dane muttered, glancing around.
๐ That Night โ Almost Confessions
The inn was noisyโhalf victory roars, half exhaustion.
But outside, on the dim steps, Dane and Alona sat side by side, bathed in moonlight.
"Did you ever think," Dane began, "if we hadn't met that day, none of this would've happened?"
Alona tilted her head.
"You mean the chaos you call a life now?" she smiled.
"Yeah. But the kind I don't mind anymore."
A beat. A pause. Dane turned toward her.
"Alona, Iโฆ"
But before he could finishโ
"DANE!"
Coach Dan's voice echoed through the inn.
"You left your jersey in the hallway again! Wet!"
Dane stiffened. Alona burst into laughter.
"What were you going to say?" she asked once she calmed down.
He looked down. Smiled.
"Ask me after finals."
"I'll hold you to that," she said softly.
Somewhere in the shadows, Coach Dan sipped coffee with a suspicious grin.
Was it an accident?
Only he knew.