Clutch Mac redeems self from tragic past

MANILA, Philippines – Mac Baracael exorcised the ghost of his past when he sank three pressure-packed free throws with three-tenths of a second left lifting Brgy. Ginebra Kings to a 101-100 Houdini act against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The escape win allowed the Kings to climb to 3-4 record and avoid joining cellar-dwellers Talk and Text and Air21, who both sport 2-5 cards.

Baracael came in for rookie Chris Ellis with two seconds left and the Kings trailing by two, 100-98.

The former FEU Tamaraw rose from the elbow to the left quarter court to get the ball off Jayjay Helterbrand’s inbound pass.

Baracael’s three-point attempt was partially blocked by Rain or Shine center Beau Belga and appeared to have touched the arm of Baracael after the release as seen on TV replays.

Senior referee Nol Quilingen saw there was contact and blew his whistle.  

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“Oo tumama talaga. Talagang may foul. Una muna bola pero dumiretso sa kamay ko,” Baracael told Philstar.com after the game.

The pro-Ginebra crowd cheered and went up their feet. The whole Ginebra bench got excited.

The Kings’ team manager and former coach Al Chua tried to pacify the crowd and ease the pressure off Baracael.  

But as the whole Big Dome anxiously waited for the first of the three free throws, Baracael’s mind went back to the 2008 UAAP Final Four game versus La Salle.

“Second time ko na to sa sitwasyon na to. Kasi nung nasa UAAP pa ako, naalala ko nag-free throw ako ‘di ko na-shoot. Dalawa yun eh. I think La Salle yata kalaban nun,” Baracael recalled.

In that fateful game in 2008, the Tamaraws were trailing by two, 64-62, in the dying seconds when Baracael missed two free throws allowing the Archers to escape with a 67-62 and advanced to the UAAP Finals.  

“So parang sa mindset ko, kailangang dumating ulit yung pagkakataon na yun at maka-recover ako sa past ko,” Baracael said. “So sakto yung kanina na-shoot ko.”

Baracael felt the pressure but stayed calm and composed.

“It’s hard.  Talagang kinakabahan ako nung time na yun. Kinukuha ko kasi yung pulso ko. Parang di ko mahawakan yung bola nung unang dribble ko. Mga dalawa, tatlong dribble nakuha ko na,” Baracael recalled.

For him, the first free throw was the most important.

“Yung crucial dun yung una eh.  Tapos nung pangalawa pumasok ulit kaya nung pangatlo, confident na ako na papasok,” said the 28-year old wingman.  

The confidence of the third year pro, who was toughened by his Smart Gilas stint before joining the PBA, grew larger with that heroic moment.

“Ang pakiramdam ko, everytime, na may darating ulit na ganito sa susunod, kumpiyansa na ako na hindi na ako kakabahan.”