What Will Happen to Andy Barroca?- Tony Atayde

What Will Happen To Andy Barroca?
by Tony L. Atayde2
For the last 3 years Far Eastern University has been plagued by doubtful events involving key players. First it was Gerilla, who was unceremoniously cut from the team after suspicions of unscrupulous behavior were discovered.
Last year, it was the unfortunate and dastardly shooting of Mac Baracael that shocked the entire league. Up to today, nothing and no one has been even slightly uncovered anything regarding this criminal act.
Now the case of Andy Barroca, a player who was expected to tear up the league especially after his tremendous showing during the Smart Gilas games, is the talk of the the Final Four. As of today, Barroca is not even sure if he will suit up for the Tamaraws for their Final Four game against UE.
Allegedly, there were very strong suspicions that Barroca was deliberately playing below his usual level in the last FEU game against Ateneo. FEU needed to win by 5 points to secure the no. 1 slot in the standings. After 3 and 1/3 quarters, FEU was up by 18 but collapsed and saw Ateneo steal the game and the no. 1 spot from them.
Apparently, the play of Barroca elicited suspicion from the FEU Management and Coaching Staff. He scored only 8 points and his lackluster performance; especially in the 4th quarter was not something that the coaching staff felt was something that was normal behavior for Barrroca.
Is the suspicion justified? Is Barroca getting the short end of the stick here? Did he really tone down his game and allow Ateneo to catch up and eventually win the game?
In all this, I believe that Barroca is being treated unfairly. If there is no solid proof of the allegations, then the suspicion is not enough. All players have bad games and this could have just been the case with him. He has steered the Tamaraws to the longest winning streak of the season and I don’t think one game can change that.
Besides, Barroca was not alone on the team. Cawaling, Ramos, Cervantes and Garcia were also responsible for letting that 18 point lead slip away. Why put the blame solely of Andy Barroca?
If the allegations are true, then it is the responsibility of the FEU management and coaching staff to obtain undeniable proof and if that is obtained, then he should be punished to the full extent of the law. It is sad to note that FEU has not even had the slightest progress in the Baracael incident, which almost cost him his life.
However, if these are all just suspicions, FEU will be destroying the future of this young man. Barroca has a bright basketball future ahead of him. He showed his ability to play international competition with Smart Gilas. Even foreign coaches and players were extremely impressed with him. He has a definite lucrative PBA spot awaiting him. However, all this could be lost if FEU decides to take him out of the team based on suspicions alone.
In fairness to FEU, they still have not made a decision on the matter and there are heavy deliberations on the actions to be taken. This situation is not easy for FEU and they have to do this in a fair and sober manner. I am sure Mr. Anton Montinola will decide in a fair manner regading Andy Barroca.
If these are all suspicions, his reputation will be forever tarnished and will always bring doubts to any team that may want his services. His whole basketball career is now in the balance. It is common knowledge that players suit up for the UAAP and the NCAA with the goal of making basketball their career. They don’t go to school to be engineers or accountants but rather go to school to show their wares and eventually end up in the PBA.
If the allegations against Barroca are true then it stands to logic that the gambling syndicate would be behind it. If this is true, then Barroca is more a victim than a culprit. After what happened to Baracael last year, who allegedly did not want any part of the gambling syndicate, Barroca may have feared for his life too. If the gambling syndicates were behind it, then Barroca is not the problem but the entire league is to blame for allowing this open secret to keep thriving.
I have always liked Barroca and I honestly do not believe that he would involve himself in game fixing. I hope that the FEU Management and Coaching Staff handle this matter fairly, after all, the future of a young man with so much potential is at stake.