Myles Powell has never played in a Game Seven before.
On Sunday, he’s about to.
And potentially in front of over 50,000 fans.
The former NBA cager couldn’t be any more excited for the upcoming battle ahead that will see his Bay Area take on Barangay Ginebra for the right to claim the PBA Commissioner’s Cup kingship at the Philippine Arena.
“This is my first time,” he said.
The closest that the 25-year-old guard has gotten to such a point was during the Philadelphia 76ers’ campaign in last season’s NBA playoffs, where they finished the Toronto Raptors in six games in the opening round.
Powell is no stranger to playing before huge crowds, but it would surely be a whole new different feeling for the former Seton Hall standout once he performs at the venue that once housed 54,086 PBA fans a few years ago.
“When I was with the Sixers, we went to Game Six with the Raptors. I didn’t get to play, but I was a part of it, I got to experience it. This will be my first real Game Seven when I’m playing, I’m on the floor in front of 50,000 people,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it, and we’ll be ready.”
Bay Area managed to send the best-of-seven series to the distance following a crucial 87-84 victory in Game Six Wednesday night, a huge part of which was Powell himself and his fourth quarter heroics.
Brought back for the injured Andrew Nicholson, the explosive guard finished with 29 points, including 12 in the final period to help the Dragons come back from a 73-66 deficit after losing hold of a 12-point third-quarter lead.
Powell hasn’t fully recovered from the foot injury he suffered last December — the reason why Nicholson took on the import chores — but chose to fight through it regardless of the game’s result as he wanted to be with his brothers.
“I’m a ride or die,” said the cager from New Jersey. “Like I just said, we finish the huddle, [saying] family. If we would’ve lost tonight, I wanted to be out there with my brothers. Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be out there.
“I didn’t really know what I was gonna do out there tonight, but like Coach said, my spirit was there. I had my brothers’ back, and I just put it in God’s hands, and we came out on top,” he added.
“Now, we got one more. Job’s not finished.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
