Barroca saves the day as Magnolia seals quarterfinals spot
Barroca scored five of Magnolia’s critical 7-0 blast inside the last two minutes of the game to beat Terrafirma. PBA IMAGE
Magnolia Chicken Timplados leaned on the endgame heroics of veteran guard Mark Barroca to fend off Terrafirma’s last-ditch rally and win at 108-100 in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Friday, May 3, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The win assured Magnolia of a spot in the quarterfinal round.
Barroca scored five of the Hotshots’ critical 7-0 blast inside the last two minutes of the game to snuff the life out of the Dyip, who rode on the hot shooting hands of rookie Stephen Holt in the final period.
Holt, last year’s top rookie pick, pumped in 13 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter as he almost single-handedly carried Terrafirma to victory.
The Hotshots, though, showed endgame poise, with Barroca making sure the team won’t suffer a fourth quarter meltdown.
Magnolia, thus, bounced back from a 74-51 Sunday beating from Meralco and captured its sixth win in 10 starts to advance in the playoffs.
The wards of coach Chito Victolero also snapped a two-game losing skid.
The Hotshots will close their elimination round assignment against the TNT Tropang Giga on Sunday.
Terrafirma, meanwhile, closed its elimination round assignment at 5-6. Its fate for a spot in the playoffs will depend on the outcome of the games this weekend.
Ian Sangalang led the Hotshots with 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Barroca wound up with 21, five boards and four dimes.
Paul Lee added 17 while veteran big man Rafi Reavis had a rare double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Hotshots.
Juami Tiongson supported Holt with 14 points, but shot just 5-of-15 from the floor.
Isaac Go had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Javi Gomez de Liano also had 13 points in a losing effort for the Dyip.