Dragons ready for Japan

Bay Area closed its tune-up schedule with a 49-point demolition of La Salle at the Kerry Sports Gym in Shangri-La The Fort, BGC, last Wednesday as coach Brian Goorjian said the Dragons’ participation in the recent PBA Commissioner’s Cup was a boost in making the team ready for the EASL Champions Week in Japan on March 1-5.

After the Commissioner’s Cup ended last Jan. 15, the Dragons took a one-week break then plunged back to the gym to prepare for Japan. Bay Area scrimmaged with the visiting Shantou University squad from China and five collegiate teams to stay in form. The Dragons blew out St. Benilde, 97-71, Letran, 122-80, Ateneo, 118-87, NU, 120-70 and La Salle, 112-63. Bay Area leaves Manila for Utsonomiya on Monday. The Dragons begin their quest for the $250,000 first prize in the EASL Champions Week against Korean league champion Seoul SK Knights on March 2 then face Japanese B-League titlist Utsonomiya Brex the next day. If Bay Area finishes second in its group, it plays for third place on March 5 and if the Dragons wind up first, they go for gold on the same day in Okinawa.

Against the Archers, Bay Area got off to a slow start as La Salle zoomed to a 5-0 lead but after Rayven Cortez tied the count at 15-all with two free throws, the Dragons detonated a 16-0 bomb that exasperated the collegians who played minus starters Evan Nelle, Kevin Quiambao, Mark Nonoy and Michael Phillips. La Salle coach Topex Robinson unveiled gems in rookies Jonel Policarpio and DJ Mitchell but also relied on veterans Bright Nwankwo, JC Macalalad, Penny Estacio, CJ Austria, Aaron Buensalida, Francis Escandor, Joaqui Manuel, Ben Phillips and Earl Abadam. Josh David, who has waited three years for a chance to crack the lineup because of injuries and the pandemic, earned his minutes.

Goorjian rested Andrew Nicholson and left the reins in Myles Powell’s hands. Powell fired 36 points in three quarters and was more than a handful for his flustered defenders. A key addition to the cast was Fil-Am Sedrick Barefield, signed by Bay Area to suit up as an Asian heritage import in Japan. Barefield announced his entry with a four-point play to draw first blood for the Dragons. He finished with 13 points. Nicholson’s absence provided 7-5 Liu Chuanxing a lot of minutes to stamp his class. Liu went mano-a-mano against Nwankwo and was even blocked once but in the end, proved unstoppable as he exploded for 14 of his 22 points in the fourth frame. Hayden (The Bomber) Blankley hit three triples and scored 11 points.

The Dragons sat on a 62-35 lead at the half and was on cruise control until La Salle went on an 8-0 surge midway the third period. Bay Area quickly restored order with Liu leading the charge and little-used Si Kun knocking down three triples in a fourth-quarter storm. Although Goorjian preferred to play PBA teams in preparing for the Champions Week, he understood there was no availability because of the ongoing Governors Cup and was grateful that collegiate squads stepped up.

“We formed Bay Area with two imports in mind playing together but had to adjust in the PBA,” said Goorjian. “It went down to one game for the PBA championship and in the lockerroom, we were in tears. But we learned from it, we’ll be better. I’d never coached before over 50,000 fans and I’ve been to three Olympics. It was a remarkable experience and Bay Area as a brand became known all over the world. We appreciate the PBA, teams and fans for welcoming us. In the Champions Week, every team will play two imports including San Miguel Beer and TNT. It’ll be tough. We play two games in the group stage and the top finishers of each group play for the championship so one loss in the preliminaries could knock you out.”