The Final Score: Witnessing the myth of Mark Barroca

San Mig Coffee just scored and led, 97-91. It was late in the fourth quarter. It was a critical moment in game four of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five finals. San Mig Coffee led the series, 2-1. Talk ‘N Text, expectedly, called a timeout. As San Mig Coffee players marched back to the bench, San Mig Coffee team manager Alvin Patrimonio jumped off his seat and darted towards Mark Barroca.

Barroca, who just scored on a daring lay-up, disappeared into Patrimonio’s checkered blue polo shirt. In a moment of unrelenting joy, Patrimonio nearly crushed Barroca with a bear hug. He probably drenched Barroca with a few tears as well. It was the unmistakable Patrimonio hug: the surest stamp of approval from the franchise’s greatest player.

I couldn’t blame Alvin. I saw what he saw.

The fourth quarter started with Talk ‘N Text leading, 74-69. The Texters built that five-point cushion thanks to three-point shots from Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag. Looking back, it feels bizarre, gut-wrenching even, to write that those two, rally-breaking three-point shots at the end of the third quarter comprised the Texters’ last stand.

With about half-a-quarter left in game four, Barroca, who was forced to sit earlier in the period after picking up his fifth personal foul, checked back into the game to replace Justin Melton. Barroca’s seminal moment – the kind of blistering personal streak fans will remember for years - in the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup was about to begin.

Talk ‘N Text led, 85-82. James Yap grabbed the loose ball and saw Barroca, who was standing just a few feet away, all alone outside the three-point line. Yap issued a gentle pass, the kind of pass you would issue to a toddler, to Barroca. Barroca aimed for the three-point shot. Ranidel De Ocampo, the nearest TNT defender, took one big step and extended his left arm to challenge the shot. Wisely for San Mig Coffee, Barroca decided to go for a fake. Unfortunately for TNT, De Ocampo decided to bite. As De Ocampo glided by, Barroca drove towards the hoop, took off early, and went for an elegant finger roll scoop shot like he was Jojo Lastimosa. After three bounces, the ball went in. Talk ‘N Text still led, 85-84.

Several plays later, Barroca had the ball. Talk ‘N Text was still ahead, 87-86. Barroca was face-to-face with Alapag. As far as I know, 2014 Barroca has always tormented 2014 Alapag. I saw that in the Philippine Cup quarterfinals. I saw that in the Commissioner’s Cup finals. Surely, Barroca has seen it too. Therefore, to nobody’s surprise, Barroca proceeded to post up Alapag. Barroca took three slow dribbles to get to a shooting spot in the paint. Alapag tried his best to bump Barroca away. Barroca, however, turned to the basket, overpowered Alapag and launched a one-hander like he was Rey Evangelista. San Mig Coffee grabbed the lead, 88-87.

After Talk ‘N Text regained the lead with a Richard Howell basket, Barroca had the ball…again. Alapag was guarding him…again. Larry Fonacier, a much taller defender, was initially guarding Barroca during the play. Fonacier, however, decided to help on San Mig Coffee import James Mays. As a result of a defensive chain reaction, Alapag found himself guarding Barroca anew. Barroca scored on Alapag earlier. Naturally he tried to score on Alapag again. He succeeded. 14 feet away from the basket, Barroca bounced off Alapag’s chest and used the separation to confidently shoot a one-hander like he was Jerry Codiñera. San Mig Coffee took back the lead, 90-89.

James Yap hit a three-point shot to push the Mixers ahead, 93-89. This column, however, isn’t devoted to the game-winning abilities of James Yap. James Yap is already a mythical figure. Barroca isn’t one just yet. But the former Gilas point guard is quickly getting there. Scoring over mythical figures like Alapag will definitely accelerate the process.

Moments later, Barroca had the ball again. Astonishingly, Alapag was guarding Barroca again. I think even Barroca was surprised. Barroca, operating from the left side of the floor, one step from the three-point line, did a stutter step to disrupt Alapag’s footing. Barroca went right. Alapag followed. As soon as Barroca reached the free throw line, he hit the brakes and decided to pivot to his left. Alapag, still sliding toward Barroca’s right side, tripped on Ranidel De Ocampo’s right foot and dropped to the floor. From a sitting position, Alapag watched Barroca spin and launch a wide-open one-hander. Barroca scored like he was Alvin Patrimonio. I watched this play over and over and my heart broke repeatedly for Jimmy. I mean, si Jimmy yun eh. The Mixers led, 95-89.

From the San Mig Coffee bench, assistant coach Olsen Racela flew from his seat and pumped both fists like he was back to being that spirited Purefoods rah-rah rookie from 1993.

San Mig Coffee was still ahead, 95-91. Barroca, of course, had the ball again. Only this time, Castro was guarding him. Castro! Gilas! Blur! BPC! Barroca, unfazed, still attacked. He pretended to go right but quickly bolted to his left. He sprinted past Castro and saw a driving lane so clear and unoccupied; Air Force One could’ve landed on that open space. Barroca soared towards the basket. Ranidel De Ocampo, two steps too late, tried to block the shot. Barroca, bracing for possible contact, looked away and took a go-hard-bahala-na-left-handed-lay-up. I still don’t know how he scored. But he did. Mixers surged ahead, 97-91.

And so we go back to the beginning of this column…

Patrimonio catapulted off the bench to give Barroca the emotional Patrimonio bear hug. It was unreal. I felt how he felt. In the final period, Barroca gave nostalgic Purefoods fans glimpses of Jolas and Rey and Jerry and Alvin. But for those too young to remember Jolas, Rey, Jerry or even Alvin, let me help you out. From a more recent context, that Patrimonio rib-crushing bear hug is pang-Denzel Bowles. The tight embrace. The captain’s tears. A young player’s validation. That unforgettable moment before a championship. Alvin gave Mark a hug na pang-Denzel Bowles because in that fourth quarter, thanks to a scoring spree that could fortify a player’s mythical status, grabe, Barroca was Bowles. - AMD, GMA News