Broken but unbowed, Mark Barroca has been at the center of Magnolia’s three-game winning streak in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
Mark Barroca has soldiered on even after suffering a wrist injury on his shooting hand during the Manila Clasico last March 31.
But Barroca played past the pain, and even starred for the Hotshots in their last two matches in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
“Masakit pa rin,” he said after scoring 19 points in an 81-77 win over Blackwater on Wednesday, April 17.
Asked why he’s making that sacrifice, Barroca kept it simple.
“Yung motivation lang, as a leader, papakita ko sa team na kaya kong mag compete kahit meron akong nararamdaman,” he said
“As a leader, syempre kailangan ko pakita yung sa team para madala sila.”
His sacrifices didn’t go unnoticed.
“I’m very thankful to Mark. Alam ko nararamdaman nya. I talked to him about it, being a leader, his passion, yung guts, grit nya. Kumbaga talagang binibigay nya lahat,” Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said. “Alam naming masakit pero wala syang choice. siya yung leader, sya titignan dito.”
It’s been working wonders for the Hotshots, who are on a three-game winning streak to improve to 4-2 record in the jampacked midsection of the leaderboard.
“The good thing is that yung iba, they will follow. Parang ‘ito nga may injury naglalaro pa, tayo pa kayang walang injury?’” Victolero added. “Thankful ako sa kanya dahil sa ginagawa nya sa team, sakripisyo nya.”
And it looks like he will play on despite the pain. After all, Victolero and the Hotshots need all hands on deck when they take on a resurging Rain or Shine on Saturday, April 20, at the Tiaong Convention Center.
“They’re the hottest team. They’re playing very, very well. We just have to prepare hard mentally and physically,” said Victolero.