The Magnolia Hotshots will have little time to rest before they start their campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All Filipino Conference, which gets going on Jan. 13.
For Governors Cup MVP, every moment of rest counts.
“Mabilisan lang. Kailangan maging sharp. Konti lang ang pahinga,” said Barroca during their of their Governors Cup title win at the SMC Head Office in Mandaluyong City.
The Hotshots finished with a 3-2 win-loss in the best-of-seven affair with the Alaska Aces, and after taking Game 5, with a 102-86 win at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
In the coming conference, the 32-year-old Barroca is again expected to lead the team with Paul Lee, along with a younger Jio Jalalon.
Former San Sebastian star Michael Calisaan, the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, will be around to add flavor their frontline.
Barroca said he is also upbeat with the return of Marc Pingris.
The 37-year-old Pingris, who is nine-time PBA champion, is back after undergoing surgery last March to repair a torn ACL.
“Pabalik na si Ping. Kumpiyansa kami sa pagbalik niya. Kumpiyansa kami na maka-final 4 ulit,” added Barroca.
The presence of speedy guards like Barroca in the rotation allowed Magnolia to pick on its game during the recent conference, with total steals per game of 11.44.
They were also able to score an average of 20.23 points off turnovers and 7.05 fast break points.
The Magnolia victory completed a Triple Crown feat for San Miguel Corp. after the Hotshots topped the Alaska Milk Aces in their PBA Governors Cup title playoff.
As the Hotshots ruled the season-ending tourney, SMC pulled a grand slam as the San Miguel Beermen annexed the Philippine Cup title then Barangay Ginebra Kings reigned supreme in the Commissioner’s Cup.
It’s the seventh straight championship for the SMC Group, ninth in the last 10 tourneys and 14th in the last 16.
But it’s the first time that the three different teams from SMC split the three crowns.
In the previous season, the Beermen won the first two conferences, then the Kings ruled the last confab.