Mark Barroca almost single-handedly carried the Star Hotshots to a monumental win over Barangay Ginebra, Sunday, night by putting on a show in the second half, but a disastrous, anti-climactic finish by the team turned his heroics into an afterthought.
Barroca hit three after three as the game swung the Hotshots’ way. Barroca scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the third period, including four triples.
Star fired a 13-0 run to take control of the game, 74-66, entering the final frame. But even if Ginebra managed to tie the game at 77 apiece, the Hotshots still came through with six straight to hold an 83-77 cushion.
The team, however, floundered in the end, allowing Ginebra to bounce back in front of over 16,000 fans in attendance. Ginebra closed the game by getting crucial stops towards the end, leading to easy baskets at the other end.
Ginebra outscored Star towards the end with a 15-4 blast – 26-13 overall in the final quarter – preventing what could have been a much-needed win for the Hotshots.
Ginebra had eight more points off turnovers, 14 more second chance points, and five more rebounds than their opponents. Star, instead, sank to 1-4 in the team standings, the worst in the conference.
“Team effort eh, andun yung effort namin at heart namin na bumalik. Proud kami don kaso noong lumamang kami, nag-relax kami. Nawala yung depensa,” a disappointed Barroca said after the match.
The veteran point guard said the team should prepare better for inevitable comeback attempts from opposing teams next time.
“Yung mga ganung bagay, dapat napapansin yun. Siguro yung mga ganung game, dapat naguusap-usap kami. Nagstruggle kami eh. Hindi na kami naka-shoot eh. Na-stop yung bola,” he said.
Barroca also noted the absence of wing man Alex Mallari, who suited up after missing two weeks (sprain) but didn’t enter the game, had also affected Star, as the latter could have had an impact on the game in many ways, especially in the defensive end.
“Wala kaming three talaga na malaki eh. Si Alex yung fit sa mga ganoong (pag) stop, sa import. Laki kasi ng import eh. Si Alex, yung haba niya, yung bilis niya, pwede yun eh,” he shared.
Looking ahead, and with the Hotshots still looking to change their fortunes, Barroca said the squad should also communicate more in pressure-packed situations.
“Next game siguro, yung ganoong makaka-run ang kalaban, dapat (napag-usapan) para alam namin ang gagawin namin (sa situwasyon).”
Photo from PBA Media Bureau
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