Mark Barroca delivered the killing blows as Magnolia survived a major scare from Terrafirma, 106-98, to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Friday, May 3.

The veteran playmaker stepped up in the clutch and went on a personal 5-0 run inside the last 90 seconds to fend off the Dyip and improve to a 6-4 record that assured them at least a sixth seed finish regardless of the results of their remaining game on Sunday.

Terrafirma, on the other hand, closed out the elimination on a 5-6 record, putting them in tie with NorthPort on the eighth to ninth spots. The Dyip now await the results of the remaining games to determine their playoff fate.

Barroca finished with 21 points – none bigger than the booming triple and a clutch floater that gave Magnolia some breathing room 106-98 with 54 seconds left.

Ian Sangalang posted 23 points and eight rebounds while elder statesman Rafi Reavis stepped up in the absence of Calvin Abueva and also scored on timely putbacks to keep Terrafirma at bay.

The 46-year-old big man turned back the hands of time and finished with a double-double of 10 points, on a perfect 5-of-5 clip from the field, along with 13 rebounds. It was enough for him to claim the Player of the Game honors – a feat he last achieved five years ago when he posted 16 points and 15 rebounds against SMB.

Paul Lee also finished with 17 points as the Hotshots finally regained their touch on the offense and broke through the 100-point mark after being limited to just 51 points in the loss to Meralco last time out.

Even with the strong offensive showing, however, Magnolia had a hard time shaking off Terrafirma, which, just like them, was gunning for the sixth win that would formalize its entry to the quarterfinals.

Terrafirma trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half but managed to tie the contest 92-all following a 7-0 spurt. Jalalon and Stephen Holt traded triples before back-to-back baskets from Reavis and Sangalang, both off an offensive board, gave Magnolia a 99-95 cushion.

Holt drilled another long bomb to keep Dyip within one but that only set the table to Barroca’s heroics in the end game.

Holt exploded for 32 points and eight rebounds while Juami Tiongson finished with 14, although was relatively quiet in the second half. Isaac Go and Javi Gomez De Liano added 13 apiece in a losing effort.