Mark Barroca was firing blanks all game long until he decided that it was finally time to take charge.

The veteran playmaker came up clutch in overtime, burying two long two-pointers to lift Magnolia past San Miguel, 98-96, and stay perfect through three games in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, April 16.

Missing all of his first eight attempts in the game, Barroca made sure to deliver the killing blows, first a long deuce off a Paul Lee kickout to give the Hotshots a precarious 96-95 lead with less than a minute remaining, and then another, this time off a swing pass from Jerom Lastimosa for the marginal basket with 7.3 seconds left.

San Miguel still had the chance to extend the contest to a second overtime but Don Trollano missed the right corner triple before Barroca grabbed the rebound to seal the win.

Magnolia improved to a 3-0 record for the early lead in the standings while SMB slipped to a 2-1 slate.

The heroics of Barroca, who finished with seven points on a 2-of-10 shooting from the field, preserved the solid outing from the Hotshots' young guns in Lastimosa and Zav Lucero.

Lucero finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while Lastimosa had a breakout game of 21 points and five assists.

The young bloods were aptly supported by their veterans with Calvin Abueva posting a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds while Paul Lee added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

It was a nip-and-tuck affair in regulation between the two squads after Magnolia erased a once 14-point lead by SMB. The Hotshots actually had the chance to take the lead in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter but Lastimosa botched one of his two free throws.

Likewise, the Beermen had their chance to win it in the fourth but Fajardo, who finished the game with 17 points and 17 rebounds, missed the potential game-winner as the game clock expired.