Barroca trey seals Gilas win over San Diego

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca buried a triple in the last 4.3 seconds, lifting Smart Gilas Pilipinas to a shock 94-93 victory over San Diego at the start of the American Basketball Association (ABA) Friendship Games in San Diego Sunday.

Fil-Am Greg Slaughter also held his own against the taller, heftier Surf as he dished out a double-double game of 13 points and 14 rebounds in his most impressive outing with the team thus far.

The vastly improved Slaughter also had five shot blocks.

It was one of the best games by the seven-foot Slaughter, a former University of the Visayas standout who is suiting up for the Ateneo Blue Eagles next season.

“It’s a great start for us,” said Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim.

The RP cagers actually had a solid start and even posted a 12-point lead in one stretch only to falter in the fourth quarter as the Surf started to impose their height and heft advantage.

The hosts grabbed the lead at 93-91 and were all set to wrap up the match when Barroca drained in that triple over the outstretched arms of his defenders to spoil the Surf’s celebration and lift Smart Gilas to the victory.

“It’s a nice birthday gift for me,” said Barroca, who celebrated his 23rd birthday last week, in an email message.

The Filipinos, whose trip here is sponsored by Smart Sports, Nike and GMA PinoyTV, are officially entered as one of the teams in the 2011 ABA season, the second biggest pro league in North America next to the NBA, as part of their buildup for this year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China and the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship.

RP is also in the thick of preparations for the import-laden 21st FIBA-Asia Champions Cup slated May 22-30 in Doha, Qatar.

The Filipinos, handled by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, will take on the Riverside Rainmakers next.

If plans don’t miscarry, Smart Gilas will be the second foreign squad to be included in next year’s ABA season as an adopted team by Daly City, next to China’s Beijing Aoshen, headed by former LA Lakers’ guard Sun Yue.