Outsized Barroca spelling big difference for Mixers

MANILA, Philippines – In a game where height is might, San Mig Coffee Mixers’ 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard Mark Barroca has been defying the tall odds.

Barroca stood taller than his height as he held his ground against Petron Blaze Boosters’ 6-5 import Elijah Millsap on defense while he delivered big baskets and solidly orchestrated the Mixers’ offense on the other end of the floor.  

The playmaker from Zamboanga finished with a career-high tying 22 points and dished out 10 assists in splendid 32 minutes of action helping the Mixers to a 114-103 victory in Game Five that brought them one win away from the PBA Governors’ Cup title.

San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone gambled on putting the smaller Barroca on Millsap on the defensive end and it paid off with their second straight victory over the Boosters.

Millsap tried to take advantage of the mismatch and attacked Barroca’s defense that seemingly took away the game of the rest of the Boosters.

The prolific Petron import finished with his most productive night in the series with 37 points but put up his lowest shooting percentage (40%) on 10-of-25 attempts and dished out his fewest assists (2).

“Alam ko naman na maliit ako kaya dinadaan ko sa hard work at pinu-push ko sarili ko sa practice,” Barroca told Philstar.com after the game.

Barroca scored nine of his total points in the third quarter where the Mixers grabbed the upper hand, 87-80, after a tight opening half that saw both teams locked up at 54-all.

It was the second straight game that Barroca played huge for the Mixers, who went up 3-2 in the race-to-four Finals.

In Game Four, he scattered 12 points including two pressure-packed free throws that helped the Mixers survive the Boosters’ furious rally from 28-point deficit in a heart-pounding 88-86 victory Friday night.

“PBA ito eh, alam ko naman na lahat ng mga best players nandito kaya kailangan humugot ako ng lakas dahil bihira lang makatuntong dito,” said Barroca, who’s enjoying the privilege to learn from legendary point guards and now Mixers’ assistant coaches Johnny Abarrientos and Olsen Racela.

Barroca needs one more big game and one more win to hoist his second PBA championship trophy and, perhaps, his first PBA Finals MVP plaque.