Mixers’ Barroca showing no signs of letting up

Mark Barroca of San Mig Coffee (light) vs Chris Ellis of Ginebra (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee’s Mark Barroca continues to show he’s one of the premiere point guards in the PBA.

And the third-year guard is proving it in the big stage while going up against the league’s best.

After leading the Mixers over Talk ‘N Text, which had a star backcourt of Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro, in the quarterfinals, Barroca is showing no signs of slowing down in their semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra.

“Every time I hit the court, I always feel challenged whether I’m up against star players or not. I make sure I give my all,” Barroca, who earned a third straight Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors, told INQUIRER.net in Filipino. “I don’t want to relax because if I do it might become a bad habit.”

Surely, he has no plans of letting up especially with his team just two wins away from a PBA Philippine Cup Finals appearance following a 97-89 win in Game 3 Sunday night.

The five-foot-10 Barroca has been playing the biggest especially down the stretch in both of the Mixers’ wins over the top-seeded Kings, who are quarterbacked by National team mainstay LA Tenorio.

He posted a career-high 25 points, keying in a late fourth quarter charge, in a bounce back win over Ginebra just days after draining the game-winning basket over Tenorio in Game 1.

Barroca’s hard work and dedication is paying off but he also credits the mentoring of his assistant coach and PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos for his success.

“Coach Johnny has been teaching me a lot. He has won many championships,” said the former Far Eastern University standout Barroca, who’s averaging 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 29.6 minutes in the semis.

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