Mark Barroca is unperturbed by the dangerous situation Magnolia has fallen into after losing Game 5 of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The Hotshots’ bid of beating San Miguel thrice in a row got spoiled following a 108-98 defeat on Sunday night, pushing them on the brink of yet another heartbreak in the Big Dance as they’re now down 3-2 in the best-of-7 affair.
“Positive naman kami sa nangyayari ngayon,” the veteran floor general offered moments after the match at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Kasi nga, ano pa ‘yung ido-down namin? Nanggaling na kami 0-2 ‘di ba, isang game na lang, dalawang panalo na lang ‘yan, ‘di pa naman nila nakuha.”
Magnolia did come back from down 0-2 in the series, first by taking Game 3 via an 88-80 decision before following it up with a 96-85 result in Game 4 in arguably their most convincing win yet that saw Paul Lee star in the strong finish.
Having seemingly figured out their rivals, the Hotshots came into Game 5 confident with their chances, only for the Beermen to send them crashing back to earth by flexing what has always been their strongest suit: depth.
Sunday night was Jericho Cruz’s turn to shine for the star-studded crew, tying his career-high of 30 points on eight triples as he helped ward off the Hotshots’ fourth-quarter rally to lift the Beermen on the cusp of another title.
SMB received a surprise contribution from guard Simon Enciso as well with his 15 points, all of which he collected from beyond the arc.
All in all, Coach Jorge Gallent’s charges nailed a total of 16 three-pointers in the crucial win, doubling what they shot (8-of-37) from the previous encounter.
“Na-shoot nila ngayon, last game ‘di nila na-shoot. Ganun talaga ‘yung series. Meron talagang time na ‘di gagana yung scheme niyo,” conceded Barroca.
“Ganun nangyari. Maganda ‘yung counter nila, lalo sina Enciso, at nung pumasok mga three points ni Jericho. Tip hat sa kanila,” he added.
It’s not just the schemes that didn’t work for Magnolia.
Barroca’s offense was also non-existent, for he only had four points on 2-of-7 shooting from the field. That, after averaging 15.2 points in the first four games.
But that didn’t bother him, pointing out that the others came through with fine outings such as Tyler Bey (34 points), Jio Jalalon (17 points), Ian Sangalang (15 points), and lead gunner Lee (12 points) — all in a losing effort, unfortunately.
“Sobrang struggle sa opensa,” he admitted. “Pero kasi maganda rin naman nilaro ng mga kasama ko. Maganda yung nilalaro nila, so nagdeliver lang din ako na depensa kasi ‘di naman all about sa akin lang.
“It’s all about the team namin kung ano yung ilalaro ng iba, kung sino mainit,” he furthered. “Struggle ako, marami naman nag-step up.”
Barroca is hardly worried, too, about Game 6 on Wednesday at the Big Dome, looking at Magnolia’s do-or-die assignment with much optimism as he believes with his team’s chances of coming back from a series deficit.
“Adjust kami. Ganun naman ‘pag series, adjust lang,” the six-time champion said.
“Mahirap na ‘yung 0-2, ito pa kayang 3-2 lang? Ayun, positive pa rin kami na makabalik kami, na makuha namin ‘yung Game 6. Tingnan natin Game 7.”
