![Magnolia Hotshot Mark Barocca PBA](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2024/04/PBA-Images5-28.jpg)
Mark Barocca of the Magnolia Hotshots during the PBA Philippine Cup vs. Blackwater Boss. -PBA images
Manila (Philippines) Magnolia's Mark Barocca has proven time and time again that he will do what it takes for the Hotshots to thrive.
Barocca's minutes were limited in the Hotshots' 81-77 win over Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium due to nagging pain in his right hand. He said he welcomed the challenge.
„Actually, that's what I want, so that I don't spend a lot of time in eliminations,“ Barocca said in Filipino.
read: PBA: Mark Barocca breaks through Blackwater to fuel Magnolia
„I've had a lot of minutes in a lot of games, and of course that's caused other players to step up. They were given an opportunity to play, and they took that chance. This makes the playoffs. Even if you come here, you won't get hit too hard.“
Despite the wrist injury, the Magnolia veteran dropped 19 points, five rebounds and three assists to win his second Most Valuable Player award, all with a hand injury.
His limited action time of 35 minutes, which usually hovers over 40 minutes, certainly gave way to other hotshots, extending his winning streak to three with a 4-2 card.
read: Magnolia looks to continue rolling as Sangalang rediscovers form
Calvin Abueva recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Ian Sangalang also played more minutes and dropped 10 points and 3 rebounds.
Besides Barocca's unselfishness, his leadership set off alarm bells for Magnolia, which dropped two straight games to Ginebra and NLEX early in the all-Filipino conference.
„Our competitiveness, effort and aggressiveness on both ends of the floor, that's what we talked about. We had a mindset. In the Ginebra game, we were there and then we fell apart. , we had poor preparation in the NLEX game,” coach Tito Victorello said.
“I needed to be competitive in practice.”
Magnolia's next game is a red-hot rain or shine Saturday at the Tieron Convention Center.