Barroca’s fiery 3rd period not enough for Star in loss to Ginebra
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Mark Barroca was at a loss for words after Star fell to Ginebra, 92-87 on Sunday.
“Di ako nanghihinayang sa game ko. Nanghihinayang ako kasi di kami nanalo,” he said.
Despite his superb third quarter, the Hotshots still found themselves on the losing end of Manila Clasico, their fourth overall in five games.
“Gusto rin namin manalo kasi andun yung team effort na bumalik sa game kahit down kami,” he said.
Barroca went wild in the third frame, pouring 14 of his 16 points in the period, alongside three steals and a pair of rebounds and assists that allowed Star to hold a 74-66 lead at the end of the frame before Ginebra eventually came back.
The energetic playmaker admitted the Hotshots got too far ahead of themselves after taking the lead.
“Kinapos lang. Lumamang kami at nag-relax kami, nawala yung depensa. Di na kami nakapag-usap sa loob,” he said. “Pag ganung bagay, dapat napapansin namin yun. Dapat magusap-usap kami kasi di na kami naka-shoot.”
He also bared the team is still feeling their way with coach Jason Webb’s system.
That was in full display when Star trotted out three bigs in that scathing third frame blast, with import Denzel Bowles, Marc Pingris, and Jake Pascual joining Barroca and James Yap on the floor.
“Yung adjustment namin kanina, bigla kami nag-three bigs. Di naman namin ginagawa yun,” he said. “Siguro nakita namin na may magandang nangyari kasi na-surprise kami na gumana yun. Baka next game, pwede ulit namin gamitin yun.”
Though defeated, Barroca’s effort did not go unnoticed, with Ginebra coach Tim Cone praising his former stalwart of his guts to deliver in big games as such.
However, the former FEU Tamaraw brushed off the praise from his ex-coach.
“Siguro nagkataon lang kasi gusto ko manalo. Binigyan kami ng chance manalo, binuwenas lang.”
Barroca’s main focus is on the Hotshots’ flickering campaign in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Yung target namin, hindi na sa top two. Mag-playoffs lang kami, yun na ang target namin. Every game, kailangan na talaga namin manalo.”
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