MARK Barroca nailed his only field goals of the game in the final seconds of overtime to lift Magnolia to a come-from-behind win over San Miguel, 98-95, on Wednesday to stay unbeaten in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup.
Barroca buried two corner shots in the final minute to help the Hotshots complete a comeback from a 14-point deficit to improve its record to 3-0 and take the solo lead as the league enters the Holy Week break.
Zavier Lucero and rookie Jerom Lastimosa also made big contributions in the win that sent the Beermen to their first loss after three matches.
READ: Chito not getting too excited on Magnolia's 2-0 start: 'Maaga pa'
Barroca shot just 2 of 10 from the field, but his conversions were the shots that mattered, first with a jumper off a feed from Paul Lee with the shotclock winding down to give Magnolia the lead, 96-95.
The Magnolia veteran also drilled another corner shot from the left side with 7.3 seconds left to settle the final score. Don Trollano missed a corner three from left in the final possession of San Miguel.
Magnolia fell behind, 58-44, in the third quarter but made a furious rally where the Hotshots entered the fourth only trailing, 67-61.
“It’s all about the grit and determination of our players,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero. “We are a down by double digit in the third quarter, but I told them to don’t quit, wait for our run, and good thing, our bench players, reserved players, and our second group delivered the energy and aggressiveness. ‘Yun ang puhunan namin.”
Lucero finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, while Lastimosa had 21 points on 4 of 8 shooting from three point range.
Lastimosa actually could have won the game for Magnolia outright in regulation but he split his two free throws with 12.9 seconds left to tie the match-up at 86. Fortunately for Magnolia, June Mar Fajardo took a medium range jumper and missed to send the game into overtime.
Lastimosa though helped the Hotshots’ cause by making two charities with 1:34 left in the extra period for a 94-93 lead.
Fajardo buried a field goal in the 1:13 mark of overtime, but that was the last time SMB tasted the upper hand.
Fajardo had 17 points and 17 rebounds, while Juami Tiongson also delivered 17 points for the Beermen.
The scores:
Magnolia 98 – Lucero 24, Lastimosa 21, Abueva 11, Alfaro 11, Lee 10, Sangalang 8, Barroca 7, Dela Rosa 4, Reavis 2, Dionisio 0, Escoto 0, Laput 0, Ahanmisi 0, Eriobu 0, Balanza 0.
San Miguel 95 – Fajardo 17, Tiongson 17, Trollano 16, Perez 14, Ross 10, Brondial 10, Lassiter 3, Cahilig 3, Tautuaa 3, Cruz 2, Teng 0.
Quarters: 18-18; 36-45; 61-67; 87-87; 98-95.
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