by: Reema Macadato
October 16 – The exhilarating ambiance radiates in the Edgar V. Bondoc Gymnasium as the enthusiastic students of Philippine School Doha gather around and witness the stimulating championship battle between the basketball women of Blue Eagles and White Hawks.
The tension in the first quarter heightens as Angel Tabernilla, the Team Captain of the Blue Eagles, and Jhezzy Mota, renowned as one of the Mythical Six the past year, clash with each other as the scoring leaders of their respective teams with their outstanding leadership and athletic ability. Angel Tabernilla scores the first points of the game as she displays her amazing balance and agility. She maintains her steady stride throughout the matchup as she leads her team to secure the early lead. However, Jhezzy Mota released a barrage of powerful shots for the White Hawks towards the end of the first quarter as they stage a vigorous comeback. The atmosphere tenses as the Blue Eagles and White Hawks clash vividly before the eyes of the spectators. The first half ended with scores of 8-4.
The second half of the game approaches as the audience started to chant their team yells to show support for their players in the court. The game becomes electrifying as Jhezzy Mota unleashes her remarkable skills as she steps up to the three point line and releases the ball to score the first three pointer of the game. The spectators go wild as the lead is reduced to 1 point and they await crunch time shots. The crowd chants louder as Angel Tabernilla attempts to widen the gap between their teams yet is hampered by the White Hawks defense. In every possession, both teams attempts to score against the other but their fortified defenses prevented any more buckets and no team is able to score. Although commendable efforts have been made nearing the end of the final half, Blue Eagles’ defense thwarts the White Hawks’ last offensive attempt and the sound of the buzzer fills the entire gymnasium. The Blue Eagles screech as they celebrate their victory with respective scores of 8-7.