For ‘Coffee Prince’ Barroca, young family provides inspiration for strong play

Rey Joble [ Source: InterAKTV ] - December 24, 2012

In just his second year in the PBA, Mark Barroca has taken the reins of the San Mig Coffee Mixers.
The speedy point guard from Zamboanga City said his family — wife Russell Anne and five-month-old baby Faith — provide the inspiration for his strong play.
“Sila naman talaga yung dahilan why maganda yung ipinapakita ko ngayon,” said Barroca.
As the lead guard for the Mixers — he doesn’t usually start games, but he often finishes them — Barroca has tremendous responsibility on his shoulders, having to make sure he explosive teammates like James Yap and Peter June Simon get the ball and providing full-court pressure defense.
“Nagpapasalamat nga ako kay Coach Tim [Cone] dahil sa tiwala niya,” Barroca told InterAKTV. “Maski na bago pa lang ako sa team, parang malaki na agad yung responsibility ko.”
Barroca had his finest all-around game of the season in Game Two of the Philippine Cup semifinals, helping the Mixers rout Rain or Shine, 106-82. He posted 17 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists for San Mig Coffee, who tied the series at 1-all.
More impressively, he played 42 minutes with the other point guard in the rotation, Jonas Villanueva, recovering from sickness.
“He deserves a lot of credit,” said Cone of Barroca. “We’ve got him playing defense on Jeff Chan, Paul Lee, and he never gets tired.”
Cone is no stranger to coaching former FEU guards, the greatest of whom is the legendary Johnny Abarrientos, now a member of the Mixers coaching staff. Abarrientos, the PBA Most Valuable Player in 1996 after leading Cone’s Alaska to a Grand Slam, has taken to mentoring the young guard.
“Maraming pointers sa akin si Coach Johnny, particularly sa pagpasa tsaka pag-depensa,” said Barroca.
“Swerte ko nga eh, parehong legend yung nagtuturo sa akin.”


Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/for-coffee-prince-barroca-young-family-provides-inspiration-for-strong-play