Saturday, September 24, 2022

Recap: Myles Powell Lifts Dragons Over Robert Bolick, NorthPort, 105-104, In Dramatic Finish

by Raymund Tamayo

Myles Powell drains a buzzer-beating three-point shot to lift the Dragons over Batang Pier, 105-104. Photo credit: PBA images.

Former NBA player Myles Powell drops a buzzer-beating three to lift the Bay Area Dragons over Robert Bolick and NorthPort Batang Pier, 105-104, in the first game of a double-header at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. 

NorthPort, down by two points in the final minute and a half, made two straight baskets to grab the lead, 104-102, with layups from Bolick and Roi Sumang, 68 seconds remaining in the game.

Former Barangay Ginebra King and Batang Pier newcomer Arvin Tolentino then stole the ball in the next possession, but former PBA MVP Arwind Santos missed the layup from Tolentino's fast break pass, time down to 56 seconds.

Powell missed a running floater in the following possession, which gave coach Pido Jarencio's boys a chance to seal the game. However, NorthPort missed two shots with the ball in their hands, setting the stage for Powell's game-winner.

Powell unleashed 37 points for the night to top all scorers. Hayden Blankley had a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards, while Chuanxing Liu contributed 13 points and five rebounds coming off the bench.

Bolick was unfazed of the visitors, scattering 33 points, three rebounds, and five assists to lead Batang Pier. Tolentino backed him up well with 22 markers, shooting 6-of-10 from the field, 10 rebounds, and three steals.

Another former Barangay Ginebra sniper, Jeff Chan, tallied 11 points off the bench, shooting 50% from three-point range.

It was an unexpected ending, especially after the Dragons' 133-87 rout of Blackwater Bossing three days prior.
“When we lost the lead, everybody came back to the huddle and we just said we needed a stop and we just executed. We got the stop and we came down, they put the ball in my hands and that’s game time,” said Powell who was overcome by emotions during the post-game interview.

Bay Area Head coach Brian Goorjian said the close win served as a warning that they can never take any PBA team lightly.

“First game is not a concern if we win by 45 points and everybody thinks you’re something, but you’re not. And tonight it showed everybody that this is going to be good basketball,” Goorjian told the press after the game.

Meanwhile, Blackwater entered the win column with a 97-85 beat down of hapless Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in the second game of the afternoon.

Former TNT Tropang Giga forward Troy Rosario had a strong debut for Bossing, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Baser Amer top-scored for the team with 24 markers and two steals. Import Cameron Krutwig had a solid game with 17 points, 16 boards, seven assists, and one block.

The Fuel Masters fell to 0-2 and was carried by import Kaleb Wesson, who had a monster game with 28 points and 26 rebounds. He is the only starter who scored in double figures with bench guys RR Garcia and Javee Mocon scoring 13 and 11 points respectively.

Here are 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.

Blackwater 97 - Amer 24, Krutwig 17, Suerte 15, Rosario 15, McCarthy 12, Banal 10, Ular 4, Jackson 0, Sena 0, Go 0.

Phoenix 85 - Wesson 28, Garcia 13, Mocon 11, Tio 9, Camacho 7, Jazul 5, Rios 3, Lojera 2, Adamos 2, Serrano 2, Lalata 2, Robles 1, Muyang 0.

Quarter scores: 23-24, 54-47, 72-69, 97-85.


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