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Star has tore down its first two foes in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations, thanks largely to an import who seems capable of doing it all and a potent local crew that has seen so many step up in different occasions.
The Hotshots have won by an average margin of 22.5 points with veteran playmaker Mark Barroca standing out as one of those providing solid local help to import Tony Mitchell.
With averages of 12.5 points and two steals, the 5-foot-10 Barroca edged out teammate Peter June Simon, Baser Amer and Jared Dillinger of Meralco and the returning Jason Castro of TNT KaTropa for the PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week citation for the period covering March 20 to 26.
Star, one of four unbeaten teams, with Philippine Cup finalists San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra yet to debut, has sent a strong statement with those lopsided victories over Phoenix Petroleum and GlobalPort.
Mitchell has passed his first two tests with flying colors, and with superstar point guard Paul Lee expected to get healthier in the coming weeks, the Hotshots are indeed playing according to pre-tournament hype as one of the teams to beat here.
Lee is playing through an injured knee that would need medical procedure once the team’s schedule permits, and Barroca playing the way he does—and being able to sustain it—will definitely help Star’s cause.
The Hotshots return to action on Friday against NLEX, a team in dire need of a win and one which could match up with Star’s loaded backcourt.
Meanwhile, defending champion Rain or Shine and Meralco, off to 3-0 starts, part ways on Wednesday when they clash in the 7 p.m. game at Mall of Asia Arena.
Alaska, on the other hand, tries to keep in step with the winner of that match when the Aces battle James White and the Mahindra Floodbuster in the 4:15 p.m. contest.