Second Chance Points

By Kevin Alberto Sabio

"Searching for opportunity, redemption, and respect!

 

Adwoa (Ah-joe-wah) Carrington is a local phenom that has been dominating the courts on the streets of Newark, NJ.  She's been proving to one and all that she can ball with the best of them, if not be the best, and is not just 'good for a girl'.  Armed with her father's philosophy on basketball, she's been breaking ankles and taking names ever since.

 

Fast forward to her adulthood, where Adwoa is now playing professionally for the Carolina Roar, and has suffered nothing but defeat for the last four years of her career, thanks to the franchise's poor management.  It's gotten to the point that Adwoa now despises the very game she loves, and is considering hanging up her sneakers for good.

 

Enter a new management team, lead by Angela Davis Killian.  They're willing to do anything to re-sign her, and keep her as their frnachise player...even bringing in some veteran help in the form of Ki Ki Sallo; a former start player in her own right that has fallen from grace, and is looking for a second shot at redemption.  But...Ki Ki comes with a lot of baggage, and some deep dark secrets.

 

Will Ki Ki be able to help the team, or will she self destruct, as she is prone to do?  Will all of this effort be enough to get Adwoa to re-sign with the team, or...will she leave the game for good?  Based on the original screenplay by the author, this is one game that you don't want to miss."     

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Alberto Sabio
• Release date: May 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201380496

Kevin Alberto Sabio

KEVIN ALBERTO SABIO is an author and activist, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  He is also known as a screenwriter, online journalist, and advocate for the cinematic and literary arts.  He has written several fiction and nonfiction book titles.

Book preview

Chapter 1

It is a nice spring afternoon in the city of Newark, New Jersey, full of vibrance and energy.  We see the various parts of urban Newark; the various ethnic groups that populate the neighborhoods, going about their daily lives, and the children blissfully playing, oblivious to life’s harsher elements.  We come along to a local playground in the North Ward section of the city, where there is a growing crowd of local neighborhood children, crowding around one of the basketball courts.  A hotly contested streetball game is being played by two teams; one team of all boys, and one team of mixed gender.  We focus on the Black female ball handler for the mixed gender team, as her chestnut form instructs her teammates on the court, and distributes the ball; Adwoa Carrington, an 18-year-old, 5'8 local basketball phenom, who is being highly recruited by several colleges.  Adwoa is playing point guard for her team, orchestrating the team’s play, wearing her familiar number 45 jersey, representing her high school, North Newark High.  She breaks down her male defender off the dribble, and throws an alley-oop to one of her male teammates.  He thunderously dunks the ball into the hoop, emphatically screaming, and draws cheers from the crowd.  Adwoa smiles at her teammate, pointing at him, as her defender becomes angry at his teammates, yelling at them for their poor play.  ...C’mon, man!, he hollers at them, ...Play some damn defense!".

The Boy takes control of the ball, and dribbles up court, an angry scowl planted on his face.  Adwoa pressures him with her defense, having really quick and active hands, strips him, and steals the ball, causing a turn over.  Adwoa then races to her basket and scores on a lay up.  The crowd goes wild at her play, cheering her on, and catcalling her opponent for getting stripped by a girl.  The Boy becomes angry at himself for his poor play, shaking his head in frustration.  The All-Boys team tries to bring the ball up court, but again turns the ball over, as a sloppy pass is intercepted by Adwoa’s female teammate.  Adwoa has control of the ball, with the Boy defending her.  He viciously talks trash to her, barking out sexist comments, trying to intimidate her.  Adwoa loses the Boy on a crossover dribble, crossing him so bad that she causes him to trip over his own feet, and fall down.  She then hits a three point shot, as the crowd cheers their approval, causing the opposing team to start to argue among themselves. 

The Boy tries to bring the ball up court again.  He tries to pass the ball to one of his teammates in the post, but is intercepted by one of Adwoa’s male teammates.  He passes the ball to Adwoa, and she brings it up court.  Her female teammate sets a pick on her defender’s blind side, and Adwoa smartly uses the pick, and drives to the basket, scoring on a scoop shot on three defenders.  The crowd goes wild at the acrobatic play, as Adwoa taunts one of her defenders by blowing a kiss at him.  He shoots her a stunned look, wondering how she was able to hit that shot, and score on him like that.  He just shakes his head, and checks the ball in to his teammate. 

Adwoa and her teammates continue to beat up upon their competition, using trick plays, and outside shooting.  The crowd delights in their display of athletic basketball skill, doling out ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’, and laughter at those embarrassed by Adwoa’s team.  Their opponents continue to bicker among themselves, not being able to stop them from scoring.  The lead continues to grow, and the gathered crowd continues to revel in the action.  This was the best of times for Adwoa; enjoying life, and playing the sport she truly and dearly loved, ever since she was born.  The world was her oyster, and she felt unstoppable.

* * * * *

The sun is setting, and the day is winding down.  Adwoa is walking home from the park, dribbling her ball.  She was happy with the ‘W’, and enjoyed playing with her friends, and a few of the other local ballers, earning their respect, as always.  She finally reaches her house, picks up her ball, and enters inside.  She drops her stuff off in the den, and calls out.

...I’m home!  Anybody here...?

Adwoa’s mother is in the kitchen, busy making dinner for the family.  She smiles to herself, glad to know that her daughter has finally arrived home, safe and sound from another day on the streets and the courts, and affectionately calls out to her.

...Hey, Adwoa baby!  I’m in the kitchen.

Adwoa smiles, and enters into the kitchen.  Her mother’s dark honey face returns the same warm smile.  Adwoa goes over and gives her mother a kiss on the cheek, and a little hug, affectionately engulfing her 5’4" frame.   

...Hey momma!  How was your day?

Oh, you know...

...Same ol’, same ol’, huh?

Adwoa heads for the refrigerator.  She pulls out the carton of orange juice, and then grabs a tall glass from the cabinet. She pours the juice all the way to the top, and then quickly downs the entire glass, quenching her thirst.  Her mother looks at her chestnut face in utter amusement, rather sarcastically, but smiling.

...Thirsty?

Adwoa makes a sarcastic face at her mother, smiling.  Really, moms...?  You’re gonna do me like that...?, she thinks to herself.  Momma just laughs at Adwoa’s response, enjoying the chance to tease her beloved daughter, for a bit.  Adwoa excitedly continues, wanting to tell her mother all about her day, smiling, ...You should have seen me, Momma! I was in the zone today!  They couldn’t hold me!.  She pauses, then chuckles, "I broke this one boy’s ankles so many times.  He was so mad...".

...I bet he was!

Adwoa briefly pauses, wondering, Momma, did I get any calls today?

Yep, three more recruiters, this time from the west coast...  She pauses, excitedly remembering, "...Oh, and there was this one recruiter from one of those black colleges from down south!  I really think you should look into that one...  Momma pauses, then wearily shakes her head, ...Honestly though, I almost can’t wait for all of this to be over with!  Then we can be at peace."

Adwoa pauses, and apologetically responds, I know, Momma. I’m sorry.  It’ll be over soon, I promise.

Momma just turns to her, and pridefully smiles at her beloved daughter, "...You just make sure to pick a good school that’s right for you...then I’ll be happy."

Adwoa smiles at her mother, and gives her a big hug, glad and proud of her support.  Her mother returns the sign of affection, tightly embracing her daughter.  Thanks, Momma!, Adwoa says, then pauses, Momma, is Daddy home?.

...He’s in our bedroom.  The coach wasn’t feeling too good, so he came home early.  She briefly pauses, remembering the events of earlier in the day, ...He was sleeping before...but I think that he’s up by now...

Okay, I’ll go see if he’s up...

Adwoa exits the kitchen, and heads upstairs to her parents’ bedroom.  She notices the flickering lights coming from underneath the door, meaning that the television is on. Adwoa approaches the door, and listens for any movement, trying to see if he was actually awake, or sleeping with the television on, as he sometimes does.  She then decides to knock on the door.  Her father jovially replies from behind the door, ...Come in!  It’s open!.  Adwoa smiles, opening the door, and then enters into the room.  We see her father’s 6 foot mahogany form lying on the bed, watching some TV.  The room has a cozy feeling to it, adorned with pictures of Adwoa in her infancy, and the family being together.  There are also trophies placed throughout the room; some won by Adwoa, and others won by her father, in his younger days.  There are a few pictures of her father during his own semi-pro playing days in the CBA, wearing the number 45 that Adwoa now wears.  Daddy smiles at Adwoa, his mood immediately lightening up, and sits up.  Adwoa closes the door behind her, and joins her father on the bed, giving him a big hug.  Hey Princess!, her father affectionately says.

Hey Daddy!  How are you feeling, coach?

Oh...I’m better now.  I just needed to take it easy, is all...

"Daddy...you know what your doctors told you...", Adwoa says, with a mix of worry and light scolding.

...Aaaaaanyway!, her father groans, rolling his eyes.  Adwoa laughs in return, shaking her head at him.  Typical daddy, she thinks to herself.  Her father continues on, a bit frustrated,  "...If any of these damn kids did what I told them, I wouldn’t need to deal with these doctors!"

Sorry, Daddy, they can’t all be like me...

They both laugh at her comment.  Her father stops laughing, and then looks at Adwoa with the affection that only a parent could feel.  Adwoa notices the look, and returns a puzzled one, mixed with a little embarrassment.  What is it, Daddy?, she asks.

I was just remembering the day that you were born..., he reminisces, pausing, You held my finger with such a tight grip...I told your mother that you had the grip of a point guard...  He pauses again, slightly guffawing, "...Then she told me that, under no circumstances, was I going to turn you into a basketball fiend, like me!"

...Too late for that!

Both father and daughter laugh at their inside joke.  Adwoa was very much her father’s daughter, and has as intense a love for the game, as much as he did.  Daddy pauses, and then looks into Adwoa’s chestnut face, a slight level of seriousness behind the look.  Business needed to be handled, and he wanted to make sure that she made the right, and best, decision for her future.

So, have you made a decision yet?

"No...not yet, but I did narrow it down to at least three schools..."

...That’s good!  That’s really good.  He proudly pauses, Just remember, the most important part of all of this is your education...

I know, Daddy, I know...

They both pause, briefly.  Her father turns his attention back to the game he was watching.  A women’s professional game is being aired, as he intently watches the action.  The California Surf are playing against the Virginia Stampede on their home court in Norfolk, Virginia, in a hotly contested and close game.  The crowd is electric, cheering on the action on the court, trying to support their home team.  The Stampede are in their home uniforms of white, with beige and brown lining, as the Surf wear their road uniforms of aqua blue, with white and light Grey lining.  The Surf are going into their offensive set, trying to score a basket, as the Stampede aggressively defend them.  The Stampede makes a great play, as their rookie star player Lakeisha Ki Ki Sallo, steals a pass, and her number 55 jersey streaks down the court to their basket uncontested, and scores on a lay up.  She excitedly celebrates her basket as she runs back on defense, causing the crowd to roar in excitement, causing the Surf coach to dejectedly call a timeout.  Coach Carrington cheers the good play.  ...-Nice!, he excitedly yells, "...Now that’s what I call defense!".  Adwoa now turns her attention to the TV, noticing the game on, now becoming intrigued.

So...who’s playing?

...I’m watching the women play.  You know, that new league that they started about six, seven years ago...the IBL?

Really?!, Adwoa excitedly responds, getting hyped up, Cool!

They both watch the game together for a few plays.  They cheer the good execution and