The third day of Regionals began with a light drizzle, the kind that made warm-ups feel like dramatic training montages. But no one was complaining—everyone was starting to click.
The Gubat-Iriga combo was no longer just a name. It was becoming a team.
🏸 BADMINTON
Alona was in her zone—quick feet, sharp eyes, calm breath. Her match today was doubles, partnered with Mira from Iriga Valley, a fiery left-hander who didn't believe in soft shots.
"You cover the front, I'll cannonball everything else," Mira had said, grinning like a storm cloud.
They won in straight sets. Not without effort, but with something better: rhythm.
Clarisse was there this time—cool as always, arms crossed during the match. She didn't say much, but her nod afterward meant the world.
"Not bad, Gubat," she said.
"Same to you, Iriga," Alona replied, matching her smirk.
🏐 VOLLEYBALL
Coach Leia's girls powered through with sheer attitude. Gubat's full squad controlled the game, but the three Iriga players filled the gaps like puzzle pieces that had always belonged.
Clarisse's cousin—Isa—made a block so clean the referee muttered, "textbook" under his breath.
They high-fived like old friends.
"We're not ducklings anymore," one of the twins whispered.
🏀 BASKETBALL
Dane's team was still figuring out spacing with the Iriga additions, but they pulled through—barely. The final quarter was chaos: full-court press, last-second substitutions, and Dane yelling, "TRIANGLE! NO—THE OTHER TRIANGLE!"
Karl's last-second assist to an Iriga forward named Nico sealed the win by one point.
Coach Dan wept. A little.
🎾 TENNIS
Jomar won his singles match, muttering about mosquitoes more than his opponent. Mira—the same Mira from badminton—also played mix doubles here, somehow with even more aggression.
Coach Tonton just sipped his iced coffee like a proud uncle.
♟️ CHESS
Randy sat beside Eri, arms crossed, looking like he was pretending not to sulk.
"You beat me in the team puzzle round," she noted.
"Barely," he replied. "It felt illegal."
"Still counts."
Behind them, Coach Leia shouted, "WHO TOOK MY SHOE?" and the gym echoed with chaos again.
As the sun dipped low, Dane, Alona, and the others gathered on the hostel roof with snacks and sore muscles. Nina threw chips at Randy. Mira was teaching Jomar how to braid her hair ("for hand-eye coordination," she insisted). Clarisse sat beside Alona, just close enough to be teammates, just far enough to still be rivals.
"Tomorrow's tougher," Dane said.
"Let it come," Alona said, her eyes gleaming.
Their third day ended with laughter, soft music from someone's phone, and a single, shared thought:
They weren't just surviving Regionals anymore.
They were fighting for it—together.