MANILA, Philippines–Magnolia coach Chito Victolero had little to say about his team’s loss to San Miguel two nights ago.
His team would rather let their game speak—especially Mark Barroca—in the Hotshots’ stunning victory over the San Miguel Beermen, 88-86, to take a 3-2 Philippine Cup Finals series lead Friday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Barroca tied his sterling performance in Game 4 in most impressive fashion, sinking a mid-range jumpshot to win the game and put his team on the brink of the championship and cap what had been an eventful night in one fell swoop.
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“I love that guy. He’s not afraid to shoot,” coach Victolero said. “Saktong, sakto ‘yung tira.”
“It was a miracle shot. I know that when they have some runs, we just needed to weather the storm,” he said. “This is the ballgame we wanted—as close as possible—to just have that chance in the end.”
The roller-coaster game hit fever pitch when a spectator in Spider-man costume stormed center court and accidentally hit June Mar Fajardo.
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From thereon, the Beermen moved closer to the Hotshots all thanks to Terrence Romeo’s triple that knotted the game at 86.
The Hotshots have a chance to dethrone the four-time defending champions this Sunday at the same venue.
“Yes,” he said about being one game away from a championship. “But we know San Miguel. They won’t go down that easily.”