STAR suffered a big blow as Mark Barroca caught an unintentional hit on the face from Karl Dehesa early in their do-or-die PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Mahindra on Wednesday.
The Hotshots point guard fell and struggled to get up after taking a fist from the Enforcers wingman, who later insisted the hit was unintentional.
[See Dehesa: 'I felt so bad because his eye looked really bad]
He was forced to leave with a little less than four minutes gone in the first period of a do-or-die game that staked the eighth and last playoff spot.
Barroca sustained a cut above and below his right eye, which needed five stiches to close. He later shrugged off the injury which, he said, felt like being punched by Manny Pacquiao.
[See Barroca refuses to be counted out after taking 'Pacquiao-like blow]
Asked if Barroca will come back, Hotshots medical staff Arcee Cua said it was Barroca's call.
Barroca, though, showed his resilience as he returned halfway through the second period, with a his right eye almost shut and still managed to play quality minutes in a win that enabled the Hotshots to take the last ticket to the playoffs.
[See Barroca, Cruz make their mark as Hotshots catch last bus to playoffs]
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