MANILA, Philippines — Marc Barroca couldn’t help but wax emotional during Magnolia’s hard-earned Game Six win over NLEX to wrap up their PBA Philippine Cup semis series Tuesday night.
READ: Hotshots survive Road Warriors, earn right to face Beermen in Philippine Cup finals
Well, why not? The win signalled memories of the last time they were in the final dance of a PBA conference. It reminded him of a special moment — one that saw his team assert their might for over a long time in the league.
Check out @M_Hotshots' Mark Barroca as the Game 6 clock expired. (He's beside the referee a few steps from the half court stripe. The feels. #PBA2018 pic.twitter.com/1O7Sx2O7Bt
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) March 20, 2018
The last time @M_Hotshots were in the #PBAFinals was when @manilacone was at the helm (2013-14 PBA season). They were the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers then and they pulled off a rare Grand Slam (a title in each conference that year). #PBA2018 https://t.co/N0d3X5ytVS
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) March 20, 2018
“Naiyak ako kanina eh,” Barroca shared with reporters after the game. “Hawak ko ‘yung bola. Sobrang pasasalamat ako na nakabalik kami sa Finals. Almost five years na rin kaming hindi nakapasok.”
Head coach Chito Victolero, on many separate occasions, tried to make joke about it in a bid to lessen the bitter taste of almost always falling short: “Grand Slam din kami. Grand Slam sa semis.”
“Sobrang thankful kami nanalo kami ngayon kasi ayaw na namin maglaro ng Game Seven,” Barroca went on to add. The veteran guard, who was part of the Grand Slam crew in 2013, tallied a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
And as if the euphoria off reaching the Finals anew wasn’t enough, Barroca also mentioned that he was seeing so much of who he was during that magical run in current backcourt partner Jio Jalalon.
“Nakikita ko rin ‘yung time ni Jio sa amin ngayon — na parang nung time namin nila James, ako ‘yung bata,” Barroca said. “Ngayon, nakakatulong kasi balanced ‘yung team namin.”
Jalalon, after a zero-point outing in Game One, has recaptured his all-around form. In Game 6, he posted a double-double to go with that of his senior’s. He finished with 11 points and 13 assists.
Barroca, though, was quick to shift his tone, noting that he only has a limited time in enjoying his moment in reminiscing. They take on sister team and reigning conference titlists San Miguel Beer this Friday to kick off the Finals hostilities.
“Sana, hindi itong Finals lang,” he said with a smile. “‘Di pa naman tapos ang misyon.”
“Meron pa kaming lalaruin, yung San Miguel,” he closed.