Barroca hits game winner as San Mig steals Game 1 against Ginebra

Mark Barroca made just one field goal but it proved to be enough for San Mig Super Coffee’s big stunner over Barangay Ginebra.

The vastly-improving playmaker swished through a clutch 10-footer with 11.6 seconds left as the Super Coffee Mixers outlasted the Gin Kings in a frenetic finish Tuesday night 85-83 to take the opener of their best-of-seven PLDT-myDSL PBA Philippine Cup semifinals showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Virtually absent in the first three periods, Barroca came alive in the pivotal canto, injecting the needed hustle and energy along with fellow guard Justin Melton before canning the go-ahead one-hander over the outstretched arms of Ginebra counterpart LA Tenorio that put San Mig Super Coffee on top anew.

With no timeouts left, the Gin Kings immediately rushed the ball and Tenorio, who fueled an 8-1 run in the crunch highlighted by back-to-back layups that put them ahead 83-81, fired a triple that hit the right side of the rim, leading to a rebound by Mixers Marc Pingris.

Pingris, however, missed his pair of freebies and Tenorio, with just 2.3 seconds left, heaved a long triple that went way short as time expired, sending the Mixers’ faithful into a frenzy while leaving the Gin Kings’ fans in utter disbelief.

San Mig Super Coffee forward Joe Devance led all scorers with 20 points, including an equally important short stab that tied the game at 83-apeice with 32.2 seconds, and even forced a big turnover on Ginebra’s Mac Baracael in their inbound play, setting up the stage for Barroca’s heroics.

Despite sitting out majority of the payoff canto, PJ Simon added 16 points while four other teammates, including the high-leaping Melton, scored at least eight markers but it was Barroca, who missed his first seven shots, that sank the game's biggest basket to help the Mixers take the psychological advantage in the race-to-four series.

Tenorio led three other Gin Kings in double figures with 16 points.

Game 2 is set this Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Main Man: It just took a (Coffee) Prince to topple the Gin Kings this time and it was no other than Mark Barroca.

After struggling majority of the back-and-forth match, Barroca struck just in time, helping the Mixers complete a big inbound error on Ginebra’s Mac Baracael before soaring over LA Tenorio for the game-winning play with 11.6 seconds.
 
Honorable Mentions: Also providing the needed lift in the stretch for the Mixers was rookie Justin Melton, who pumped in all but one of his eight points, including a big triple and a picture perfect dunk.

Not to be outdone was forward Joe Devance, who took charge offensively for the Mixers in the opening half with 15 points before scoring an easy lay-up off a Yancy De Ocampo feed that knotted the count at 83-apeice with 32.2 ticks remaining.
 
Game Turning Point: Having burned their last and final timout, Ginebra forward Mac Baracael failed to find an open teammate and was pressured by San Mig counterpart Joe Devance to make a pass, with the leather eventually getting into the hands of the Mixers.

Smelling blood, Mark Barroca then put matters into his own hands, banging Ginebra guard LA Tenorio to carve out the needed space before soaring to release a dagger of a floater that put the Mixers on top anew 85-83 going to the final 11.6 seconds.

The Gin Kings then succumbed to pressure, with Tenorio missing a pair of triples in the closing seconds.
 
He Said It:
San Mig Super Coffee coach Tim Cone: “That (finish) can’t get any better than that. No one got far enough from anybody. I got away from my coaching style. Justin (Melton) and Mark (Barroca) were playing good defensively and they were playing so well. We were able to escape with a win. Justin and Mark were really the key down the stretch. It's a long series. There's no feeling of comfort leading one-to-nothing but it does give you an opportunity to dictate the series. Now it takes the pressure out of your team and it sets the tone for what you want to do.”

The scores:

San Mig Super Coffee (85) – Devance 20, Simon 16, Pingris 10, De Ocampo 9, Sangalang 8, Melton 8, Barroca 5, Yap 5, Mallari 4, Reavis 0.

Barangay Ginebra (83) - Tenorio 16, Aguilar 14, Baracael 12, Slaughter 10, Ellis 9, Caguioa 8, Reyes 5, Helterbrand 4, Monfort 3, Mamaril 2.

Quarter scores: 26-28, 43-40, 57-65, 85-83.