Changing of the guard as Barroca vows to rise to occasion in starting role By Richard Dy

San Mig Coffee guard Mark Barroca knows a big responsibility has been put on his shoulders after the departure of former starter Jonas Villanueva, but he insists that he will be up to the task. Jerome Ascano

THE departure of skipper Jonas Villanueva marks a new beginning for Mark Barroca, who now takes over as the full-time starting guard for San Mig Coffee beginning in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
And Barroca is ready to rise to the occasion.
“Sinasabi nga sa akin ng mga teammates ko na pagkakataon ko na rin ito na ipakita yung kaya ko,” Barroca told Spin.ph, a few days after San Mig parted with Villanueva, JC Intal and Aldrech Ramos in a blockbuster deal involving four other teams.
"Kaya ako, nagpapakundisyon din talaga."
The No. 5 pick overall of the 2011-2012 draft has blossomed in his second season with the Mixers, raising his averages in almost every department and playing well enough to earn a share of starting duties in the season-opening Philippine Cup.
The 26-year-old sophomore playmaker averaged 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.29 minutes over 21 games - far better compared to his 5.37 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assist in 17.42 minutes he had in 62 games as a rookie.
Barroca also stepped up when a bout with dengue fever kept Villanueva out of the lineup in the semifinal series against Rain or Shine, logging 33.5 minutes a game while holding his own against the Painters' deep backcourt.
Villanueva's departure therefore marks a changing of the guard for the Mixers, with coach Tim Cone counting on the former Far Eastern University playmaker to continue to blossom as a starter.
The Zamboanga-born Barroca knows a big responsibility has been put on his shoulders, but he insists he will be up to the task. He also welcomed the arrival of rookie Alex Mallari from Petron, saying the wiry guard has a major role to play in the reshuffled backcourt.
“Siyempre, maliit ako, so minsan popostehan din ako ng malalaking guards," he said. "Kaya malaki ang maitutulong ni Alex sa team."
The Mixers begin their Commissioner’s Cup title defense when they clash with Barako Bull in one of two opening-day games on February 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/changing-of-the-guard-as-barroca-vows-to-rise-to-occasion-in-starting-role#.UQIfGkV7dNM.twitter

San Mig Coffee starts defense vs Barako Bull in Commissioner’s Cup By Celest R. Flores

Tim Cone. Photo by August dela Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — Head coach Tim Cone and San Mig Coffee opens up their title defense against new look Barako Bull on opening day as the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup kicks off on February 8.

The Mixers, who have import Matt Rogers and two new rookies on deck, battle the Energy, who had four veteran acquisitions over the off-season, at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Globalport and Petron Blaze, two teams raring to turn their fortunes around this year, kick off the festivities at the 5:15 p.m. match at the same venue.

Back-to-back double header affairs round up the opening weekend of the Commissioner’s Cup.

The PBA office released the official schedule for the import-laden, second conference of the season, which features a format like that of the Philippine Cup — but only shorter and high-risk.

None of the 10 teams could afford a slow start as they figure in a swift single-round robin elimination round, with the best eight advancing to the quarterfinals.

The top two teams are given a twice-to-beat edge over the eighth and seventh seeds in the quarterfinals, while the rest of the match-ups pit the third against sixth place and fourth against the fifth seed in a best-of-three duels.

Both the semifinals series and the finale are decided in a best-of-seven showdown as the elimination round ends on March 22.

Alaska, who has tapped Robert Dozier for reinforcement, clashes with last conference runner up Rain or Shine at 5:45 p.m. on February 9 before recent champion Talk N’ Text sees action against Meralco Bolts at 8 p.m.

Crowd darling Barangay Ginebra’s first schedule of the season is against Air 21, also at Smart Araneta Coliseum, at 6:30 p.m. on February 10, after Barako Bull versus Global Port tiff at 4:15 p.m.

The short elimination phase also features road games in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Tubod in Lanao del Norte, Naga City in Legazpi, Albay, and Panabo inn Davao del Norte.

Aside from Rogers and Dozier, Keith Benson (Talk N’ Text), Bruno Sundov (Rain or Shine), Justin Williams (Globalport), Renaldo Balkman (Petron Blaze), Herbert Hill (Barangay GInebra), Michael Dunigan (Air21), Eric Dawson (Meralco) and Evan Brock (Barako Bull) are all set to strut their wares in March.