The Zamboanga native appears to be all-out in his support of the Zamboanga Valientes.
The PBA’s best are in a giving mood this holiday season.
Magnolia Hotshot guard Mark Barroca recently paid a visit to the Zamboanga Valientes, presumably to impart some of his hoops knowledge and encourage his hometown squad. The Valientes posted on Instagram a picture of Barroca with the players and coaching staff, and thanked the former PBA Finals MVP for the support.
The Coffee Prince visiting the Valientes at practice should come as no surprise. Barroca himself is a pride of Zamboanga, having been born in Zamboanga City and spending his early years in the province. Barroca was ultimately recruited by FEU to play varsity hoops — and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Many years later, one of the PBA’s most well-respected court generals continues to be fond of his humble roots, and him paying the Valientes a visit is just another reminder of that. It is unclear if the Coffee Prince played or at least scrimmaged with the team, but his presence alone likely perked up Zamboanga’s young players, including big man Kemark Cariño and 3x3 standout RJ Argamino.
One of the youngest Valientes, incidentally, is John Amores, who was involved in an unfortunate, highly publicized episode of violence in the collegiate ranks just last month. Still picking up the pieces from the fallout of that incident, Amores has gotten a second chance at hoops with the Valientes of businessman Lando Navarro. And it appears he has gotten a mentor in the 36-year-old Barroca, whom he called “big bro” in an Instagram post.
Barroca’s visit, which comes barely a week after TNT guard Roger Pogoy was spotted in Cebu playing pickup ball with some collegiate standouts, is a timely boost for the Valientes. They will be representing the Philippines in the ABL Invitational 2023 and will plunge into action on January 2.