Mark Barroca said Magnolia Pambansang Manok opted to stick to the positives instead of dwelling too much on its major meltdown against Meralco a couple of days ago.
The Hotshots’ rout of the Blackwater Bossing allowed them to get back on track following their major collapse against the Meralco Bolts when they squandered a 13-point lead in the final two minutes for a 95-94 defeat.
“Sobrang frustrated namin dun sa last game namin,” Barroca said after Magnolia’s 94-78 rout of Blackwater Friday, Sept. 3 at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
“Pero dinala namin dulo yung game namin (against Meralco) as motivation kasi nga ayaw namin mangyari ulit yun. Kasi ng maganda ang tinatakbo ng team at baka mawalan na kami ng kumpiyansa.”
With a 5-1 record and second in the standings, Magnolia’s romp was a morale-booster heading into its clash with unbeaten TNT on Sunday, Sept. 5.
It took a while before Magnolia got its bearings as Blackwater raced to a 20-10 lead in the opening quarter. But Barroca led the charge with his 16 points and seven assists in a reserve role as the Hotshots were able to take control in the second half.
Magnolia also got a lift from rookie guard Jerrick Ahanmisi, who three triples helped him score 12 points in 24 minutes.
“Credit din namin siyempre di lang sa first five pero sa second team pati na rin sa third team na hinugot ni coach kasi nag-contribute talaga,” he said.