Mark Barroca reminded everyone why he remains Magnolia’s steady hand in crunch time. The 39-year-old guard anchored a fourth-quarter surge that broke open a tight game and propelled the Hotshots past Titan Ultra, 127-119, Friday, October 17, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Barroca poured in seven of his 16 points during a blistering 13-0 run to open the final period, teaming up with fellow veteran Ian Sangalang to turn a narrow lead into a comfortable cushion. That stretch swung momentum firmly to Magnolia, which pulled away and never looked back.

With Zav Lucero and Sangalang continuing to dominate the paint, the Hotshots widened the gap to as many as 21 points, 119-98, before cruising to their second straight win under new head coach LA Tenorio.

Titan, playing without Calvin Abueva due to a hamstring injury suffered in its previous game, dropped to 1-2 after its second consecutive defeat.

Magnolia’s veterans take control in the clutch

Joshua Munzon again shouldered Titan Ultra’s scoring load, drilling long bombs late alongside Von Pessumal and Damien Cuntapay to keep the game interesting inside the final three minutes. Their efforts, however, couldn’t undo Magnolia’s decisive run.

Lucero was a force all game, racking up a double-double early and finishing with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Sangalang came off the bench to chip in 21 markers, while Russell Escoto added 16 and a game-high seven assists in another productive outing for Magnolia’s second unit.

Javi Gomez de Liano came alive in the fourth, dropping 11 of his 14 points in the final frame, while Jerom Lastimosa knocked down his first four attempts and ended with 13.

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Titan rallies late but falls short against Magnolia’s depth

Munzon topped all scorers with 28 points, supported by Renato Ular’s 17 and double-digit contributions from Jerick Balanza, Pessumal, rookie Chris Koon, and Cuntapay. Titan relied heavily on its perimeter game to stay within striking distance, trailing just 56-58 at halftime and 88-92 entering the fourth.

Once Barroca and the veterans seized control, however, Titan ran out of answers against Magnolia’s balanced attack.