The Manila Times

Bay Area Dragons gun for 4-0 start

BY RICHARD DY

GUEST team Bay Area tries to continue its strong start when it faces the Aldin Ayo-coached Converge team in the main game of the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup today, October 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Dragons opened the mid-season conference with three straight victories, with their latest coming off a comefrom-behind 101-91 decision over Phoenix last week. Mentored by decorated international coach Brian Goorjian, Bay Area began the import-spiced conference with a 46-point beating of Blackwater, but faced tough oppositions against NorthPort and Phoenix, although the guest team managed to pull off the wins in the end.

Goorjian said having seen the competition during the recent Philippine Cup ruled by San Miguel Beer, they simply need to respect every PBA opponent coming their way.

“I think it’s been great competition and we’ve had tough (games) and the guys have started to learn the importance of defense,” said the 69-year-old Bay Area coach heading to their 5:45 p.m. clash with Converge.

“We have respect for every team so we got to play well to compete.”

Import Myles Powell continues to stand at the forefront of the guest team’s title aspirations. Despite not being the tallest among the imports and standing at 6-foot-2, Powell has been doing it all for Bay Area behind his solid averages of 36.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.7 assists per contest.

He is also surrounded by a solid supporting cast led by Gilbert Yang, 7-4 slot man Liu Chuanxing, Hayden Blankley, Duncan Reid and Zhu Songwei.

The guest team’s mettle will get another serious test today against the FiberXers, who are starting to embrace the defense-first philosophy under their new coach.

The FiberXers enter the game with a 1-1 record, their first loss coming at the hands of the Magnolia Hotshots, 109-105, last week.

In the opening game at 3 p.m., Meralco and Terrafirma duke it out in a battle of two winless squads.

The Bolts opened their campaign last week with back-to-back defeats to the Batang Pier and Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Meralco will continue to miss Fil-Am wingman Chris Newsome due to a calf injury he sustained in the team’s first game this conference against NorthPort.

Sports

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2022-10-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

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The Manila Times