MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca decided to delay his flight to Japan and fired 14 points to help power Oracle Residences to a 79-73 victory over Pharex in the opener of their best-of-five showdown for the PBL PG Flex Unity Cup crown at the San Juan Gym yesterday.
Barroca, who with fellow Smart Gilas Pilipinas teammate Aldrech Ramos decided to postpone their trip to Japan for a series of exhibition games and help the Titans against the Bidang Generix, also hauled down nine rebounds as he combined with Rico Maierhofer and Fil-Am Chris Timberlake in a late fourth quarter charge to lift the team to victory.
The most consistent performer for the Nationals in the recent FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta had four assists and one steal and hounded Pharex Fil-Am guard Chris Ross all game.
The Pharex Fil-Am guard finished with only eight points on a 3-of-12 shooting from the perimeter. Ross also had eight rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block.
Barroca also put up a 30-point performance in a 97-77 rout of Cobra Energy Drink Saturday to help the Titans clinch the other finals berth.
Ramos, on the other hand, made two points, three rebounds and one shot block .
“I didn’t know they (Barroca and Ramos) have decided to delay their flight to Japan to play today (yesterday). I’m glad they did,” said coach Glen Capacio.
Game Two is set tomorrow at the same venue while Game Three is on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.
“The series is far from over. I can only relax if we win the championship,” said Capacio.
Despite turning the ball over 11 times, the Titans dominated the first half as the Bidang Generix failed to translate those miscues into points.
Oracle then raced to a 41-30 lead early in the third quarter but a three-point spree by Francis Allera and Cebu hotshot Ian Saladaga sparked a Pharex comeback with the Bidang Generix closing in at 54-55 at the end of the period.
Ronnie Matias, who finished with a career high 28 points and 13 rebounds, four steals, three shot blocks and two assists, then took over as Pharex wrested a 60-55 lead early in the fourth.
But Timberlake countered with an eight-point binge and Maeirhofer and Barroca backed him up with six points apiece as the Titans regained the lead en route to the victory.