The fourth quarter was pure will. Flowstate's energy and chaos began to wear on Sannoh's pristine structure. The champions were forced into uncharacteristic mistakes—a rushed shot, a rare traveling violation.
Teo, empowered by the switch-heavy defense, started stepping out to contest mid-range shots, using his wingspan to disrupt Sannoh's rhythm. Bornok fought for every rebound as if his life depended on it, creating second-chance points.
With three minutes left, Renz hit a deep three-pointer, bringing the score to 70-68. The respectful silence of the arena was broken by a surge of noise. The invincible champions were on the ropes.
Sannoh called a timeout. For the first time, their calm demeanor showed cracks. They were in a fight they hadn't anticipated. Flowstate had dragged the dynasty into the mud, and in the mud, they were equals.