Bay Area is sticking with Andrew Nicholson now that it will play in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals opposite Barangay Ginebra.
Head coach Brian Goorjian has already ruled out any possibility of Myles Powell returning as the spitfire guard will be sidelined for months due to a torn tendon on his foot — the reason why he had to wear a protective boot for a while.
The former NBA cager, 25, will be out six weeks minimum no thanks to the injury he suffered in practice days prior to the playoffs.
“Myles is out,” said Goorjian moments after the Dragons’ 94-92 ouster of San Miguel in the Semis’ Game 4, Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s a serious injury, and it’s gonna be months. It’s a period of time. We’re hoping we can get him right for the EASL, but he’s out.”
Nicholson, after all, led Bay Area to the Last Dance, pumping in 42 points and 21 rebounds in the clincher, including the booming trifecta for the 94-90 lead with 1:33 to go as he helped out in dousing cold water to their foes’ rally.
And watching from the sidelines proudly was Powell, gamely cheering on his teammates as the ball club from Hong Kong earned a shot to become the first foreign guest team to win a PBA chip since Nicholas Stoodley in 1980.
Goorjian actually spoke to both of his players after the match before returning to their locker room. Asked about it, the decorated mentor said that he simply expressed gratitude to the two for helping the team get this far.
“I just wanted to let them know without those two being the people that they are, this would not have happened,” he said.
“Because I haven’t been into a situation where an import has been able to handle what those two handled. Being here for five months, sitting and not playing and working their ass off. I’m just really proud of our team.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
