MANILA – Bay Area Dragons is not planning to change its reinforcement ahead of their 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals showdown with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings beginning on Christmas Day at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
According to Dragons head coach Brian Goorjian, they will be sticking with 6-foot-10 Andrew Nicholson as their import when they chase the PBA midseason conference championship.
The Dragons started their Commissioner’s Cup campaign with point guard Myles Powell as their reinforcement before tapping in fellow former NBA player Nicholson midway in the elimination round.
Bay Area did return to Powell as their import in their last few elimination round matches before shifting to Nicholson anew at the start of the playoffs as they former suffered a torn tendon on his toe.
“Myles is out injured. It’s serious. It’s a serious injury. It’s going to be months,” Goorjian said in a post-match interview following their 94-92 win over San Miguel Beermen in Game 4 of their best-of-five semifinals.
“He rolled his toe and tore a tendon. Had an MRI and there was a tear. Put in a boot, and it’s six-weeks minimum. And then rehab. There’s no chance (for him to come back for the finals),” he added.
Goorjian, who also served as the head coach of Australia Boomers national men’s basketball team, is hoping that Powell will be healthy in time for the Dragons’ campaign in the East Asia Super League.
“It’s a period of time. We hope we can get him right for the EASL. But for the PBA finals against the Barangay Ginebra, Myles is out,” Goorjian added.
The Dragons was the fourth guest team in the league to go all the way to the finals and they will aim to become the first visiting team since Northern Consolidated squad in 1985 to hoist the PBA title.
During their lone PBA elimination round encounter, the Gin Kings scored a lopsided 111-93 victory over the Dragons last October 9. Justin Brownlee led the Kings with 46 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, while Nicholson had 28 points and 12 rebounds./PN
