Mark Barroca –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
BACOLOD CITY—Mark Barroca has been a PBA All-Star several times now, but he has seemingly forgotten the feeling of winning the midseason exhibition.
He wants to change that Sunday when he skippers his crew against Japeth Aguilar’s in the showcase set at University of St. La Salle Gym here.
“The last was in Cagayan de Oro, when we played Gilas, and then another when I played for coach Tim Cone in Davao (del Sur),” he told the Inquirer on Thursday during the kickoff presser.
“So, you bet, I want to win again so bad,” the nine-time All-Star from Magnolia went on.
Barroca’s last two victories truly feel like a lifetime ago, as they came in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Making those memories seem like a distant thing of the past is the coronavirus pandemic, which denied the league and its fans three editions of the midseason extravaganza from 2019 through 2022.
Barroca’s eagerness to end a personal All-Star Game drought also stems from the fact that he will be battling an old coach in Cone.
“Knowing coach Tim, he wouldn’t want to disrespect the game. He wants real competition. We’re going to match his heart because we’re also doing this for the fans. Everybody wins,” he said.
A 13-year veteran with six championships under his belt, Barroca will captain only his first-ever All-Star crew this Sunday with the guidance of another “rookie” in San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent.
“I feel so blessed because I picked the players. I put together this squad. I felt like a coach as well,” said Barroca, who even beat counterpart Aguilar of Ginebra as the top vote-getter for this season’s exhibition week.
“It’s a boost in my morale. I know [that I was dealing with] Ginebra fan base but I was still given a chance. Maybe there were voters outside the Magnolia (support), so I’m grateful.”
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.