The sharp blare of the buzzer echoed through the Imus Sports Complex, signaling the end of a ferocious first quarter. The scoreboard glowed: Dasmariñas National 15, Imus High 12. It was a slender lead, earned through grit and precision, but against a squad as dangerous as Imus, it felt fragile. The crowd remained a roaring beast, their chants for the home team a constant, thundering pressure. On the Dasmariñas bench, players wiped glistening sweat from their brows, their deep breaths telling a tale of maximum effort, knowing the true test of endurance was just beginning.

Coach Gutierrez surveyed his starters, Tristan and the others, who had poured everything into the opening frame. He made a decisive call. A full line change. He needed fresh legs to counter Imus's relentless pace and a different tactical look to keep them off balance.

"Second unit, you're in!" he commanded. "Ian, I want you to control the paint and direct the defense. Mark, push the pace but be smart with the ball. No careless turnovers!"

The five players rose, a wave of new energy. The lineup for the second quarter was a strategic shift:

Mark Herras at point guard, a lightning-quick playmaker with razor-sharp court vision.

John Manalo at shooting guard, whose smooth, confident stroke was a weapon from anywhere on the floor.

Joseph Rubio, an athletic and aggressive small forward, always looking to attack.

Gab Lagman, a tireless workhorse and defensive stalwart at power forward.

Ian Veneracion, the tactical center, the team's intelligent backbone in the paint.

Opposite them, Imus High returned with their trusted starters, their expressions hardened with a new resolve: Jamie Alapag, Jeffrey Chan, Joey Joson, Robin Villanueva, and Andrew Quiñahan. They weren't rattled; they were ready to reclaim their home court.

The quarter began not with a jump ball, but with a Dasmariñas inbound pass, a right of possession earned from the opening tip. Mark Herras took the pass, his eyes immediately scanning the floor.

"Let's run 'em!" Mark barked, his voice sharp and clear. "John, flare right! Rubio, cut sharp!"

Mark exploded past the half-court line, his low dribble a blur of motion. Jamie Alapag met him, but Mark's sheer speed created an advantage. He drew a second defender and, without looking, snapped a pass to John Manalo on the right wing. John caught the ball, pump-faked to get his defender in the air, took one hard dribble towards the baseline, and lofted a delicate floater over the outstretched arm of Robin Villanueva. The ball kissed softly off the glass and dropped through.

Score: Dasmariñas 17 — Imus 12

The answer from Imus was swift and merciless. Jamie Alapag, visibly annoyed, pushed the ball up the court with a vengeance. He weaved through traffic, his head on a swivel. He spotted Jeffrey Chan relocating to the wing, a sliver of space opening up. Alapag dropped a slick, behind-the-back pass that hit Chan perfectly in his shooting pocket. Before Joseph Rubio could close out, the shot was already gone.

It flew in a perfect arc. Swish.

Score: Dasmariñas 17 — Imus 15

"Can't give him that space!" Ian Veneracion called out, directing his teammates. "Stay attached!"

Mark brought the ball back upcourt, his expression calm despite the pressure. He signaled for a high screen from Ian. "Cut, cut! Joseph, baseline!" he shouted, orchestrating the offense.

Joseph Rubio made a hard cut from the corner, shaking his defender. Mark threaded a bounce pass through a tight window. Joseph caught it at the free-throw line, rose up, and drained a smooth mid-range jumper.

Score: Dasmariñas 19 — Imus 15

The game then descended into a physical grind. Down low, Gab Lagman was locked in a brutal battle with the powerful Robin Villanueva. Their bodies collided with audible thuds as they fought for rebounding position.

"Not in my paint," Gab grunted, planting his feet and absorbing a hard shoulder from Santos.

"Just try and stop me," Villanueva shot back, shoving for space.

The intensity was infectious. John Manalo and Jeffrey Chan traded defensive stops, neither giving an inch. But a player like Chan can't be contained for long. He came off a screen, caught a pass, and fired another three-pointer that silenced the visiting fans. On the very next possession, he did it again from the opposite side of the court. The Imus crowd went into a frenzy.

Score: Imus 21 — Dasmariñas 19

"Timeout!" Coach Gutierrez yelled, seeing the momentum shift dangerously.

In the huddle, his voice was firm. "Pressure on Chan! He's a rhythm shooter and you're letting him find it! Gab, Ian, own the boards. We can't give them second chances. Mark, settle it down. Run the offense."

Back on the court, Imus continued their surge. Joey Joson attacked the rim, weaving through three defenders to score a tough, twisting layup.

Score: Imus 23 — Dasmariñas 19

The lead was growing. The pressure was mounting. Mark took a deep breath near mid-court, exchanging a look with Joseph.

"We're fast but we need control," Mark said, his voice low and urgent.

"Keep it steady, play smart," Joseph replied, clapping him on the shoulder. "We'll break through."

It was John Manalo who stopped the bleeding. Coming off a screen from Ian, he caught the ball deep on the wing and, despite a hand in his face, launched a three-pointer with unshakable confidence. The net barely moved.

Score: Imus 23 — Dasmariñas 22

A possession later, Imus scored again, making it 24-22. The ball was in Mark's hands. He drove hard into the lane, drawing defenders like moths to a flame. At the last second, he kicked the ball out to Joseph, who had found an open spot at the elbow. Joseph pulled up and nailed the crucial jumper.

Score: Tied, 24–24

The final minute of the half was a frantic scramble. Jamie Alapag pressed the attack, threading a pass to Jeffrey Chan for another contested three. The shot looked good, but it caught the front of the rim and bounced high.

Ian Veneracion, who had been perfectly positioned, leaped and snatched the crucial rebound out of the air. "Go, Mark, go!" he yelled, firing a perfect outlet pass.

Mark received the ball with just seven seconds on the clock. He raced down the court, a blur of green and white. Five seconds… four… The defense collapsed on him as he crossed the three-point line. He couldn't get a clean look. But he saw John Manalo spotting up on the wing.

With three second left, Mark fired a laser of a pass.

John caught it, his feet already set. He didn't have time to think. In one fluid motion, he rose, his form pure even as a defender flew at him, arm outstretched. The horn blared while the ball was still in the air, a final, hanging note of suspense.

The entire arena fell silent, watching its flight.

Swish.

The ball ripped through the net as the backboard lit up red. The Dasmariñas bench erupted, players jumping and screaming.

Score at Halftime: Dasmariñas National 27 — Imus High 24

The players walked to the locker room, smiles tight but proud. The buzzer-beater had not only given them the lead but had seized the momentum right back from the home team.

Coach Gutierrez met them at the door, a towel slung over his shoulder. "That quarter showed heart. You took their best punch and you hit back harder. That's the grit I'm talking about. Now, let's rest up and figure out how we're going to win the second half."

Mark's eyes were still sharp, his words to his teammates filled with a quiet fire.

"We own this court if we keep fighting like that for two more quarters."

The crowd was electric, stunned and excited in equal measure. The first half had been a war, and the next chapters of this semifinal clash were still unwritten, alive with staggering possibility.

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