Four Gangsters and Me (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 43

"We will try a different system for tomorrow's match." Bungad ni coach nang magpulong kaming lahat sa gitna. "Hero will not play as an opposite spiker but as a setter."

"Coach, what about River?" Tanong ni Kuya Michael na nagtataka rin sa desisyon ni coach na gawing setter si Hero.

"We will fight against a good blocking team tomorrow. Although we have a strong lineup with River and Hero together in the court, it will be better to maintain three attackers in front for better options." Paliwanag ni coach at agad ko namang naintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin doon. "Francis, I want you to practice playing in the opposite side of the court for you will be our starting opposite. Paulo, I might put you in the opposite side as well so be ready."

Nang matapos sabihin ni coach ang pagbabago sa sistema namin ay nagsimula na kaming magwarm-up.

"Paulo is a quicker and Charles is a running spiker. We can possibly have a double quick play when they are together at the front." Alam kong ako ang kausap ni River nang sabihin niya iyon dahil wala naman kaming ibang kasama ngayon.

"Do you think we can pull-off this sudden change?" I curiously asked. Nasanay nang nagpapractice si Francis na pumalo sa open kaya malaking adjustment kung sa opposite na sya ngayon. Hindi naman sanay si Paulo na hindi siya middle blocker kaya malaking adjustment rin sa kanya ito.

"We will never know unless we try." Sagot nito. "But be ready, okay? You might play opposite too." Agad akong umiling nang sabihin niya iyon.

"I don't know how to set, River." Pagtanggi ko rito. Kahit anong pilit kong magtoss ay ayaw talaga sumunod sa akin kaya't hindi ko kakayaning maging opposite spiker.

"You don't need to. That's only needed when you'll have 6-2 rotation wherein you have 2 setters in the court who can spike as well." Paliwanag nito. All this time, ayaw kong maging opposite spiker dahil hindi ako marunong magset pero pwede naman pala. "Hero is the best example of that one. However, I am really not a good attacker so we can't have that 6-2 rotation."

"But Hero sets the ball as well when you are at the court, right?" Tanong ko.

"Only if I receive or dig the ball. If you'll be the opposite spiker and your setter gets the first ball, the libero should get the second ball and you must prepare for attacking unless the ball is really near you." Aaminin kong naliwanagan talaga ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. Kaya ko pala talagang maglaro ng kahit anong posisyon maliban sa setter.

"So basically, opposite spikers are just the same as outside hitters?" Pagkukumpirma ko.

"You can say that. But based on observation, they are better in blocking than outside hitters." Walang tigil ang kakatango ko dahil sa mga bagong nalalaman ko dahil kay River.

"I want to try, River."

"Let's try, Ivan." Ginulo nito ang buhok ko pagkasabi noon at pagkatapos ay nakarinig ako ng malakas na pag-ubo. Nang tignan ko kung sino iyon ay nakita kong nanonood na sa amin si Harvey.