the match winner...

it felt like a total blur.

it was the last game of the day. as usual, it was competitive as hell. what's more, the way the teams were split, it was dubbed the speed versus strength duel - all the speedier, smaller guys on one team while the more powerful and physical guys were on the other.

we'd raced to an early lead, but that didn't really matter. eventually we lost it, and i was getting frustrated with myself for not reproducing the good form i had shown in the earlier matches. silly dribbles that lead to turnovers and poor defending on my part eroded the lead into a deficit to a runaway lead.

yet, true to form of *the* last game, we just clawed right back. and eventually, the game was poised on a knife edge at 20 baskets apiece. just one more basket from either side would win the game.

and damn it was taking long to come.

both teams came close. tired legs meant tired defenders and we had a proper game on our hands. there was a mix of openings from various ranges, but none of them found their way in.

then it happened.

we were on the attack after enduring a spell of pressure. the ball found its way to kelvin on the right side of the basket. somehow, i saw an opening and made a run in behind the defense along the touchline and received the good pass from him.

something inside told me to shoot. and, as if it were pure, raw instinct, i rose to take my shot, with my back to the net.

and it sailed through the air, coming off the back board with a thump and swishing into the net.

all i could do to celebrate was punch the air and let out a "yes!" before going over to kelvin to thank him for the pass.

it felt damn bloody good.