Mark Barroca could be playing with a mask in Magnolia’s coming games after suffering a broken nose during their eventual loss to TNT on Tuesday night.
The 38-year-old will see the doctor for a deeper look at his injury, but he’s already bracing for any possibility, which may include wearing protective facial gear – something he’s never done in his ongoing 13-year career.
“Kung maglalaro ako, kailangan magma-mask ako. Tapos follow-up lang ‘yung paggalaw ng ilong,” he told reporters moments after their narrow 84-82 defeat at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “Kaya tingnan natin kung ano mangyari.”
Play stopped at the 3:06-mark of the fourth quarter after he got hit in the nose by Kelly Williams, who was trying to locate a teammate for a pass after Barroca provided help defense to disrupt the big’s handoff to Jayson Castro.
His nose bled but the team’s medical staff was there to attend to him, although the veteran guard was no longer put back into the game by Coach Chito Victolero – something that Barroca regrets, but understands at the same time.
“‘Di ba may 15-second rule? Three minutes na lang ‘yun, kaya tumayo na kaagad ako, upo na kaagad ako – sobrang sakit – para makabalik pa. Ayaw na ni Coach eh. Wala tayong magagawa. Desisyon na ni Coach ‘yun,” he said.
He understands, too, that what happened was totally accidental, for he knows that his ‘Kuya Kelly’ does not and will never do such on purpose.
“Si Kelly siyempre kuya ko yan e, di naman ganun si Kelly eh. Disgrasya lang talaga. Aksidente talaga,” said the Gilas Pilipinas pioneer.
But just like he’s done before, even though he’s banged up, Barroca assured that he won’t miss games because of the facial injury.
“Marami naman akong pinagdaanan. Hindi ako magmi-miss ng laro sa mga ganyan,” he said. “Kanina nga gusto ko nga pumasok, sabi ni Coach, ‘Huwag, ayoko sumugal ng ganyan, mamaya mas lalong lumala.'”
For now, though, he will simply wait for that check-up and prepare for possibly playing with a mask. Barroca has heard stories of struggle from his fellow players who have gone through that ordeal once in their careers.
“Maraming nagiistruggle sa mask … Sabi ko nga sa mga kasama ko, dalhin nila yung mask nila bukas, yung mga tinamaan na sa ilong – sina Calvin [Abueva], si Jed [Mendoza], si Peter [Alfaro] nung college siya,” he said with a chuckle.
“Kasi two weeks pa ‘yung mask e. So tingnan ko kung ano ‘yung feeling,” he added. “Parang di ako sanay. Yung meron lang akong mga nakadikit sa katawan ko, parang naiilang na ako. Di ko alam sa mask. Kasi first time eh.”
