Cheers from Across the Ocean

"Don’t worry. They’ll pull through."

(Scene: A Community Room at a Basketball Facility in Philadelphia, USA. Afternoon. The space is simple but inviting, with a big TV, a couch, a treadmill, and a water dispenser in the corner.)

(YOU and MIKE, still sweaty from a workout, walk in with towels around your neck. JAY is sitting on the couch, absorbed in his laptop.)

You: What’s the score?

Jay: Down by 13.

You: Time?

Jay: Third quarter, four minutes left.

(You walk over to the water dispenser and refill your bottle.)

You: Plenty of time.

Mike: What are you watching?

Jay: A game.

Mike: Any good?

Jay: To me, it is.

Mike: Who’s playing?

Jay: Ask Olaudah. He knows these teams better than I do.

(You glance at the laptop screen. The Castle logo stirs familiar memories.)

You: That’s my old team from the UK—The Castle.

Mike: Oh, the K-boy’s team?

You: Yeah, the K-boy.

Mike: Man, I liked that kid. How’s he doing?

Jay: (pointing at the screen) Number 10—that’s him.

(Mike leans closer, blocking your view.)

Mike: That’s him? I remember when he trained with us last summer. That kid cracks me up.

You: (shoving Mike aside) Sit down, man. Let us watch.

Mike: Why are you all huddled over a laptop anyway? We’ve got a big TV right here.

Jay: No cable.

Mike: Lucky for you, I think I’ve got one in my bag. Hang on.

(Mike disappears to the locker room. You sit next to Jay, eyes glued to the screen.)

You: Don’t worry. They’ll pull through.

Jay: Confident as always, huh?

You: Yeah. We used to do this all the time—fall behind and then steal it in the end.

Jay: You guys always pulled it off.

You: It’s a tradition.

(You both watch as The Castle sinks a three-pointer.)

You: Honestly, I didn’t expect them to make it this far—final four. I definitely underestimated them.

Jay: (jokingly) Or maybe you secretly want them to lose, so people realize how much they needed you.

You: Obviously. (laughs) Anyway, I miss those guys. Even the ones who folded under pressure.

(You walk over to the treadmill and start jogging, keeping an eye on the game. The familiar sights on the screen bring a wave of nostalgia. Mike returns with the cable.)

Mike: How’s it going? Did I miss anything?

Jay: Six minutes left.

Mike: Perfect timing. Let’s watch the good part on the big screen.

(Before Jay can protest, Mike grabs the laptop and connects it to the TV. Jay leans back on the couch, waiting.)

You: Hey, Mike, Jay’s watching.

Mike: Don’t worry, two minutes and it’s done.

Jay: It’s fine. Whether I watch or not, it won’t change anything.

(As Mike fiddles with the cable, you notice Jay checking the score on his phone.)

You: Did Kin call you last night?

Jay: Yeah. You?

You: Yep.

(Both of you share a knowing smile.)

You: Is he always like that before big games?

Jay: Nah, not really. He just likes having someone to talk basketball with before big games. Back in Hong Kong, he used to invite us over to play video games before the important ones.

You: Oh, really?

(The game flashes onto the big screen. The Castle is up by six, with just two minutes left—94-88.)

You: Not bad.

(Jay sits up straighter, his jaw tense. He’s completely absorbed in the game now. The room falls quiet.)

Mike: Six points in two minutes—can they mess this up?

You: Not likely. They’ve got a solid defense.

Jay: Six points isn’t safe. They need to stay sharp.

Mike: Gotta defend the Castle.

(You all watch in silence as The Castle locks down on defense and sinks two crucial free throws. Mike jumps up and exclaims, “That’s it!” while Jay leans back with a relieved smile. The final buzzer sounds: 97-90.)

(The Castle players erupt in celebration. On the screen, the camera pans to Coach Benson, who’s smiling proudly on the sidelines.)

You: Coach B. He’s probably the biggest reason they made it this far.

(The camera zooms in on Tariq Al-Amin, with the caption: “Tariq Al-Amin: 27 points, 3-point FG: 7/13.”)

(The screen then shifts to Kin, with the caption: “Kin Pang: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 7 steals, 18 assists.”

(You nod, the memories flooding back. The cheers on screen remind you of last year—standing on that court, holding the MVP trophy, celebrating with your teammates.)

(Jay suddenly stands, breaking the moment.)

You: Hey, Jay, where you going?

Jay: Think I’ll hit the court. Do a few more reps on my threes.

You: I’ll join you later.

(Jay heads out, and Mike shakes his head, still staring at the screen.)

Mike: The K-boy—18 assists? That’s insane. Was the other team asleep or something?

(You stay on the couch for a while. Your phone buzzes. It’s a message from KIN.)

(Kin’s Message: “Hey Ola! We made it to the Final! 🏀💪 Miss you, bro! Hope you’re watching! 👀🙌”)

(You smile, your heart warmed by his words. You type a quick reply.)

(Your Message: “Proud of you guys. Keep pushing. Wish I was there.”)

(You send the message and set your phone down.)

(For a moment, you look out at the Philadelphia sky. The bond with your old team is still strong, and the ocean between you all doesn’t seem so wide. It’s like you’re right there with them, celebrating their win, cheering them on.)

(Posted on 19.1.2025)

#BasketballFriendshipAcrossContinents