MARK Barroca continues to put up impressive numbers in the PBA Philippine Cup despite playing through the pain of a wrist injury.
The 37-year-old guard again answered the call for the Hotshots in their game against the Blackwater Bossing, finishing with a team-high 19 points, and had five rebounds and three assists in an 81-77 win at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Wednesday night.
Barroca is averaging 19.3 points in the Hotshots' last three wins as he raised his level of play since incurring the wrist injury in the team's 87-77 loss to Barangay Ginebra.
As one of the veteran players in the team, Barroca said he should lead by example.
"Siyempre as a leader, ipapakita ko sa team na kaya kong mag-compete kahit meron akong nararamdaman. As a leader, kailangan kong ipakita yun sa team para madala mo sila," he stressed.
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There's no time frame as to when the injury would heal as Barroca said complete rest is needed for his right wrist to be healthy again.
At the moment, the former Far Eastern University standout had to wear kinesiology tape on his arm every game to help reduce the pain and the swelling.
"Time lang talaga, parang natapilok lang siya," he said of the injury. "Siyempre nilalaro mo, so hindi siya napapahinga. Pabalik-balik lang. Maglalaro ako ng ganito hanggang sa mawala."
And certainly this is not the time for Barroca to take a rest especially with Magnolia in a three-game winning run to improve at 4-2 overall and solo third place in the standings.
Coach Chito Victolero acknowledged the impact his starting point guard brings to the team in the light of his nagging injury.
"I'm very thankful to Mark kasi alam ko yung nararamdaman niya. I talked to him about it. And being the leader, he's showing his passion and yung kanyang guts and grit niya. Kumbaga, binibigay niya ang lahat kahit may nararamdaman siya. Alam naman namin na masakit, pero sabi ko nga sa kanya, wala ka namang choice, e," said Victolero.
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"Siya yung leader, siya yung tinitinggnan dito. But the good thing is, yung iba they will follow. Kasi nga itong may injury naglalaro, tayo pa kayang walang injury. So thankful ako sa kanya sa ginagawa niyang sakripisyo sa team."
