The Captain and His Pirate Boys

"Now, show the old man your magic."

(Scene: Inter-Primary Schools Basketball Competition, the Final, somewhere in Hong Kong, afternoon.)

(The scoreboard flashes: 47-45. Only 10 seconds remain on the clock. The roaring crowd fills the small stadium. YOU, a 62-year-old Coach with silver hair, hold a whiteboard, on which a simple play is sketched.)

You: Alright, listen up, boys. Ten seconds left. We’re down by two. Jay… the ball’s in your hands. I want the court spread. Everyone stays left. Clear the lane and give Jay space to operate.

(The players nod, sweat rolling down their faces. JAY, tall and composed, the leading scorer of your team, stares at the board, deep in thought.)

You: Jay, you decide—drive, shoot, or pass. Play smart. The rest of you, stay sharp. Be ready to crash the boards or hit an open shot if Jay dishes it out.

(The players rise, preparing to return to the court. But Jay lingers, his eyes gleaming with a thought. He turns back.)

Jay: Coach, wait. I’ve got an idea.

(You raise an eyebrow as the team halts. Jay points toward the opposing team’s defender, a large, lumbering boy guarding Kin.)

Jay: They’ve been doubling me all quarter. My chances of a clean shot are slim. But look at Kin’s guy—he’s big, slow, and can’t keep up.

(Jay glances at KIN, a small but athletic boy with an eager yet humble expression, who looks surprised but intrigued. Jay leans closer, his voice filled with quiet confidence.)

Jay: What do you think, Kin? Can you take him one-on-one?

Kin: (grinning) He’s a Big Mac, but I can blow past him.

Jay: (to you) I’ll draw the double-team and dish it to Kin. He can attack the rim. If he misses, I’ll crash the boards for the rebound. No one will see it coming.

Kin: We might not even need overtime.

(Jay and Kin grin playfully, elbowing each other.)

(You study the two boys, their determination and trust palpable. You wonder what this dynamic duo is planning. After a pause, you let out a slow breath, a smile tugging at the corner of your lips.)

You: Alright. Let’s go with it. Kin, stay focused. Everyone, have faith in your teammates. And remember—we still have to play defense if it goes in. Stay alert until the final whistle.

(Standing shoulder to shoulder, Jay and Kin signal to the team. Everyone smirks, and suddenly, all twelve players salute you playfully.)

All: Aye-aye, Captain!

(You chuckle, patting the boys on their heads. You pull Jay and Kin close, placing a hand on their shoulders. The three of you turn to face the court together.)

You: Look at the scoreboard. This is it—your moment. Trust each other. Show the old man your magic.

(Jay and Kin exchange a sly, knowing grin, like they’ve been preparing for this moment their entire lives. As they jog onto the court, shoulder to shoulder, you overhear them whisper.)

Kin: Coach should’ve said, “I can’t hear you!” when we said, “Aye-aye, Captain!”

Jay: He’s not exactly a SpongeBob fan, I guess.

Kin: Still, it would’ve been cool. Might’ve boosted my HP to 110.

Jay: You can’t have 110 HP. It’s not logical…

(You watch them go, their laughter rising above the crowd’s chants. A mix of pride and curiosity swells within you as they take their positions on the court.)

(CINDY, their closest friend and classmate, stands beside you and your wife, cupping her hands around her mouth as she shouts.)

Cindy: Kin! If you mess this up, I’ll kill you and then kill you again!

(Kin glances up at Cindy and makes a face at her. Jay smirks.)

Jay: Looks like Cin’s the Doc Rivers here.

Kin: She’s always like that. And she didn’t even buy me a chocolate bar before the game.

(You stand on the sideline, arms crossed, a glint of pride in your eyes.)

(The stadium lights blaze, casting sharp shadows as the two boys take their places on the hardwood, their teammates following behind.)

(To everyone else, the boys look carefree, almost as if this final play is scripted for them to win. You stand on the sideline, arms crossed, a glint of hope in your eyes.)

You: (quietly, to yourself) Let’s see what you’ve got, my Pirate Boys.

(The referee hands the ball to Jay. The whistle blows, and the final play begins.)

(Posted on 3.1.2025)

#CoachLastBattle