MANILA – Magnolia Hotshots will try to dethrone San Miguel Beermen in Game 6 of the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots moved closer to completing a series upset on four-time defending champions Beermen after an 88-86 Game 5 escape the other night behind the game-winner of Andy Mark Barroca.
Barroca admitted that it was a blessing in disguise for him to drain the buzzer-beating jumper after eluding the defense of Beermen center Christian Standhardinger as the outcome could be different had the match went into overtime.
“Nasa isip ko rin, kung mag-overtime pa ‘yon, mahihirapan na kami, naka marami pang mangyari. Sabi nga namin, last shot makuha namin, kukunin talaga namin,” said Barroca.
“Salamat sa Panginoon, nakuha namin ‘yung chance na nakuha nga namin,” added the former Gilas Pilipinas guard, who was instrumental in Hotshots’ Game 5 win with 22 points.
Barroca also said that as the opportunity to clinch the All-Filipino Cup trophy already in front of them, the Hotshots are determined to go all out but are still wary of the Beermen.
“Ganun talaga eh. Powerhouse na team [itong San Miguel Beermen] eh, underdog kami lagi this conference, underdog talaga kami,” said the former Far Eastern University Tamaraws star.
“Kami lang talga sa grupo namin naniniwala kami, basta naniwala kami maraming nangyayari. Kaya nga battle cry namin, ‘We Believe’ eh,” he added. “We will try to end it in Game 6.”/PN
