Bay Area Dragons’ import Myles Powell. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Myles Powell buried a buzzer-beating three to give the visiting Bay Area Dragons a dramatic 105-104 win over NorthPort and a 2-0 start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The 6-foot-2 American scored the shot from the left wing despite the presence of 6-foot-10 Batang import Prince Ibeh as the Dragons survived the biggest test since they arrived in Manila last month to compete in the PBA and the East Asia Super League.
Powell, overcome by emotions after the thrilling affair, finished with 37 points to help Bay Area avoid the upset scare posted all game by NorthPort.
“I’m pleased the get out of here alive but lessons learned for the Dragons,” said Bay Area coach Brian Goorjian, who won nine tune-up matches by convincing margin and defeated Blackwater by 46 to begin the midseason tournament.
Hayden Blankley had 15 points,10 rebounds and five assists while 7-foot-5 Liu Chuanxing added 13 points and five rebounds.
WATCH: NorthPort’s Robert Bolick enters the press room to congratulate Bay Area Dragons hero Myles Powell after his buzzer-beating triple. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/WNR5rfmof1
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 24, 2022
NorthPort fell to 1-1 despite Robert Bolick scoring 33 points and Arvin Tolentino providing an all-around presence in his second game since being traded from Barangay Ginebra.
Tolentino made a career-high 22 points and added 10 rebounds and three steals.
The Batang Pier took the lead with barely a minute left on Roi Sumang’s basket, but they couldn’t take advantage of the breaks in the latter stretch, allowing Powell to come through in the clutch.
The scores:
BAY AREA 105 — Powell 37, Blankley 15, Liu 13, Liang 9, Yang 9, Chu 8, Reid 8, Ju 6, Song 0, Lam 0, Zheng 0.
NORTHPORT 104 — Bolick 33, Tolentino 22, Balanza 11, Chan 11, Ibeh 8, Santos 6, Sumag 5, Salado 3, Ferrer 3, Ayaay 2, Caperal 0.
Quarters: 18-24, 53-51, 80-77, 105-104.