Behind the heroics of Mark Barroca late in overtime, Magnolia extended their winning streak to three games in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, clinching a 98-95 victory over San Miguel Beer in a thrilling Holy Wednesday, April 17,  matchup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Barroca, who had struggled throughout the game with an 0-of-8 shooting performance, delivered when it mattered most, drilling back-to-back crucial baskets in the dying moments of overtime. His clutch shots allowed the Hotshots to overcome the Beermen, who had led by as much as 14 points earlier in the game.

San Miguel suffered its first loss of the season, despite controlling much of the match and having a chance to seal the win in regulation. However, June Mar Fajardo’s final attempt in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter missed, sending the game into overtime.

The extra period was a back-and-forth battle, but Barroca’s two long twinners at the 46.5-second mark and with 7.3 seconds remaining were enough to seal the win for Magnolia. Despite only contributing seven points, Barroca also added seven assists, three rebounds, and four steals to his statline.

Earlier in the game, Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa led the charge for the Hotshots, scoring 24 and 21 points, respectively. Calvin Abueva recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Peter Alfaro III and Paul Lee added 11 and 10 points, respectively, with Lee hitting a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to spark a Magnolia run.

San Miguel’s efforts were highlighted by Fajardo’s 17 points and 17 rebounds, while Rodney Brondial posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. Juami Tiongson’s 17 points, Don Trollano’s 16, CJ Perez’s 14, and Chris Ross’ 10 were not enough to prevent the loss.

Magnolia’s resilience in the final moments of the game allowed them to overturn the Beermen’s early dominance, with the Hotshots clinching a 98-95 victory after a thrilling overtime period.