MANILA, Philippines – In a fiercely contested overtime match on Holy Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Magnolia defeated San Miguel Beer, 98-95, thanks to the clutch play of veteran guard Mark Barroca. The Beermen suffered their first defeat of the competition as the Hotshots won the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup for the third time in a row.

Despite struggling for the majority of the game, Barroca scored seven points in the end, but he was crucial when it counted. Before making two crucial deep jumpers in the last 46.5 seconds and again with 7.3 seconds left in overtime, he went 0-of-8 from the field. The game was won by Magnolia thanks to those clutch baskets.

Barroca contributed to the stat sheet with seven assists, three rebounds, and four steals despite having a low scoring night. He overcame a San Miguel team that had led by as many as 14 points earlier in the game thanks to his leadership and composure in the closing seconds.

San Miguel dominated the first half and appeared ready to win for the third time in a row. The Hotshots were able to gradually regain their position in the game after the Beermen lost control of it in the second half. June Mar Fajardo missed a game-winning opportunity at the buzzer, but the Beermen still had a chance to win in regulation.

Both sides traded leads during a close back-and-forth stretch of the extra frame. In the last moments, Barroca gained the upper hand and delivered the finishing strikes that startled San Miguel and put an end to Magnolia’s comeback.

Fajardo’s impressive double-double performance, which included 17 points and 17 rebounds, was overshadowed by the victory. For the Beermen, Rodney Brondial also contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds. In the end, San Miguel failed despite their best attempts.

Don Trollano scored 16 points, while Juami Tiongson led the Beermen with 17. Chris Ross and CJ Perez both scored 10 and 14 points, respectively, but it was insufficient to stop Magnolia’s comeback.

Magnolia’s offensive was led by Jerom Lastimosa and Zavier Lucero. With 24 points, Lucero had the most, followed by Lastimosa with 21. Prior to Barroca’s late-game heroics, the Hotshots were within striking distance thanks to the pair’s steady performance throughout the game.

With 11 points and 10 rebounds, Calvin Abueva recorded a double-double, bringing vitality to both ends of the court. Paul Lee added 10 points, including a crucial four-pointer that ignited the Hotshots’ late fourth-quarter rally, while Peter Alfaro III added 11 points as well.

Magnolia’s victory came from perseverance and patience. They maintained their composure and gradually reduced San Miguel’s lead after falling behind early. They forced the game into overtime thanks to their speedy attack and fierce defense, but in the end, poise and experience won out.

In the last minutes, the Hotshots hampered San Miguel’s play by taking advantage of crucial stops. They also countered the Beermen’s rebounding edge with aggressive play inside and timely shots.

After losing a game that could have been won, San Miguel, who are now 2-1 in the conference, will want to get back on track. Head coach Jorge Gallent will be concerned about the team’s failure to finish the game despite having a number of scoring alternatives and a potent inside presence.

Magnolia, meanwhile, keeps up its impressive season-opening performance. The Hotshots have established early momentum and demonstrated tenacity against challenging opponents with three consecutive victories. In the fiercely tough Philippine Cup field, the victory over San Miguel is a statement win and a confidence boost.

As the conference goes on, both teams should still be in the running, but Wednesday’s game showed that last-minute play can determine results, and Mark Barroca was the difference-maker this time.

Scores at the end of the match

OVERTIME

MAGNOLIA with 98 points for the win

Individual scores: Lucero 24, Lastimosa 21, Alfaro 11, Abueva 11, Lee 10, Sangalang 8, Barroca 7, Dela Rosa 4, Reavis 2, Dionisio 0, Laput 0, Ahanmisi 0, Balanza 0, Escoto 0.

SAN MIGUEL with 95 points

Individual scores: Fajardo 17, Tiongson 17, Trollano 16, Perez 14, Ross 10, Brondial 10, Lassiter 3, Cahilig 3, Tautuaa 3, Cruz 2, Teng 0.

Scores per quarter

18-18, 36-45, 61-67, 87-87, 98-95