Barroca breaks silence, denies charges

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca, dropped from the FEU roster in the face of game-fixing allegations, finally came out in the open to clear his name.

“Nais ko pong malaman ng lahat na malinis po ang konsensya ko, at wala po akong alam na maling ginawa (I want everyone to know that my conscience is clean and I did nothing wrong),” said Barroca in a text message from agent Ed Ponceja.

The 23-year-old Barroca, also a mainstay of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team seeking a berth in the 2012 London Olympics, was recently removed from the Tams lineup for the rest of the 72nd UAAP basketball season. The school said the move is a disciplinary action for his alleged involvement in point-shaving or game-fixing activities.

Without him, FEU dropped a 74-84 setback to University of the East, enabling the Warriors to force a do-or-die match for the second finals berth on Thursday.

Defending champion Ateneo made a return trip to the finals with an 81-64 rout of UST in the other Final Four match yesterday.

Barroca, who averaged a team-high 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals a game, also apologized to the team even as he thanked everyone who supported him during his playing years with the Tamaraws.

“Sa aking mahal na coach at minamahal na teammates, kung di ko na-abot ang inaasahan nyo sa akin (To my beloved coach and teammates, for my failure to meet what you expect me to do),” said Barroca.

“Wala pong Mark Barroca kung walang pagkakataon na ibinigay sa akin ang FEU na makapaglaro sa UAAP (There would be no Mark Barroca if FEU didn’t give me the chance to play in the UAAP).

“Good luck at prayers po sa FEU sa Final Four (Good luck and my prayers are for FEU in the Final Four),” he added.

Barroca said he would concentrate on his stint in the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team, which is coached by Serbian Rajko Toroman.

“Sa SBP, bigyan nyo po ako ng pagkakataon na maglaro sa Smart Gilas Pilipinas para makapagsilbi sa bayan. Ito lang po ang aking ninanais ngayon at sana wag naman ako pigilan nino man (To SBP, please give me an opportunity to play for Smart Gilas Pilipinas so that I can serve the country, this is what I want and I hope no one would stop me),” he said.

Barroca also said he respects FEU’s decision to sack him.

“Ako po ay lubos na nalulungkot sapagkat hindi na ako makakapaglaro sa FEU at sa UAAP. Pero nirerespeto ko po ang desisiyon ng FEU para sa sabi po nilang kapakanan ng team at ng unibersidad (I’m deeply saddened knowing I would no longer play for FEU and in the UAAP. Nevertheless, I respect the decision of FEU for what it said was for the sake of the team and the university),” he said.

Barroca also asked FEU to allow him to finish his studies using his athletic scholarship, which was already granted the day before.

“Kay sir Anton (Montinola) at sa FEU, bigyan nyo po ako ng pagkakataon tapusin ang aking pag-aaral sa FEU bilang skolar dahil ito po ang aking banal na pangako sa aking ina nung ako po ay umalis sa Zamboanga para makipagsapalaran sa Maynila (To sir Anton and FEU, please give me a chance to finish my studies as a scholar because this was my promise to my mother when I left Zamboanga to go to Manila),” he said.

“Matatag naman ang aking kalooban ngayon, at naniniwala ako sa pagsubok na ito ay magiging mas mabuti akong player. Hindi po ako aayaw, hindo po ako titigil magsumikap (I know I’m strong inside and I believe that this obstacle will make me a better player. I will not back down, I will not stop working hard),” said Barroca.