MANILA, Philippines – The Bay Area Dragons with the help of comeback kid Myles Powell edged Ginebra San Miguel, 87-84 and forced a do-or-die Game 7 on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Not a great way to start game six for Barangay Ginebra as the Bay Area Dragons played strong, held them field goal-less in the first four minutes and forced the Gin Kings to commit multiple turnovers for an early lead.
To add to the home team’s woes, the Dragons activated their first-choice import, Myles Powell. The prolific scorer, despite not playing for over a month, became an instant offensive threat as he connected his first shot from the outside.
Just as Bay Area’s lead began to balloon, Stanley Pringle came to the rescue for Ginebra and gave his team a handful of points to close the gap.
Along with Pringle, Justin Brownlee provided some firepower to the Gin Kings. The Best Player of the Conference drained a long trey just as the clock went zero to cut Bay Area’s lead to five, 25-20.
Brownlee and Pringle’s three-point parade was interrupted by Kobey Lam as the Dragon-wingman made it rain too from the downtown in the second quarter to re-escalate their top position.
Powell, even though got booed by the crowd in every possession, still looked like a well-oiled machine and gave his team its first double-digit lead with four more minutes left in the first half.
Brownlee really gave his all in the first half. But the Dragons were too tough to crack and maintained their advantage, 50-42 heading to the dugout.
Finally, Ginebra locals led by Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar found their rhythm in the third quarter and managed to cut the lead to just a double-possession.
Slowly but surely, the Gin Kings are playing basketball as a solid team, Brownlee was now getting the support that he was looking for to close the series.
Just like that, the momentum had switched to the home team courtesy of super import Brownlee under two minutes in the penultimate period.
Despite the fearless run, Ginebra still found itself behind, but by this time, it was just by a deuce, entering the final canto.
Ginebra’s sixth man, the crowd, went crazy as the home players solidified their defense in the fourth quarter; Brownlee alone blocked 7’5” Liu Chuanxing twice.
Christian Standhardinger who was quiet in the previous quarters showed up where the team needed him the most in the crucial minutes of the game to add more numbers and lead to his team.
Ginebra might have taken the lead but Bay Area won’t go down that easily without fighting back. Powell initiated the comeback as he unleashed vicious long bombs from the three point territory.
Powell’s offensive initiative in the fourth paid off as the Dragons silenced the house with an 87-84 win and forced the series into a do-or-die game seven.
Game 7 will be on Sunday, January 15 at the Philippine Arena.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
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| Unstoppable Myles Powell sent the series to all-or-nothing Game 7 vs Ginebra. |
Not a great way to start game six for Barangay Ginebra as the Bay Area Dragons played strong, held them field goal-less in the first four minutes and forced the Gin Kings to commit multiple turnovers for an early lead.
To add to the home team’s woes, the Dragons activated their first-choice import, Myles Powell. The prolific scorer, despite not playing for over a month, became an instant offensive threat as he connected his first shot from the outside.
Just as Bay Area’s lead began to balloon, Stanley Pringle came to the rescue for Ginebra and gave his team a handful of points to close the gap.
Along with Pringle, Justin Brownlee provided some firepower to the Gin Kings. The Best Player of the Conference drained a long trey just as the clock went zero to cut Bay Area’s lead to five, 25-20.
Brownlee and Pringle’s three-point parade was interrupted by Kobey Lam as the Dragon-wingman made it rain too from the downtown in the second quarter to re-escalate their top position.
Powell, even though got booed by the crowd in every possession, still looked like a well-oiled machine and gave his team its first double-digit lead with four more minutes left in the first half.
Brownlee really gave his all in the first half. But the Dragons were too tough to crack and maintained their advantage, 50-42 heading to the dugout.
Finally, Ginebra locals led by Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar found their rhythm in the third quarter and managed to cut the lead to just a double-possession.
Slowly but surely, the Gin Kings are playing basketball as a solid team, Brownlee was now getting the support that he was looking for to close the series.
Just like that, the momentum had switched to the home team courtesy of super import Brownlee under two minutes in the penultimate period.
Despite the fearless run, Ginebra still found itself behind, but by this time, it was just by a deuce, entering the final canto.
Ginebra’s sixth man, the crowd, went crazy as the home players solidified their defense in the fourth quarter; Brownlee alone blocked 7’5” Liu Chuanxing twice.
Christian Standhardinger who was quiet in the previous quarters showed up where the team needed him the most in the crucial minutes of the game to add more numbers and lead to his team.
Ginebra might have taken the lead but Bay Area won’t go down that easily without fighting back. Powell initiated the comeback as he unleashed vicious long bombs from the three point territory.
Powell’s offensive initiative in the fourth paid off as the Dragons silenced the house with an 87-84 win and forced the series into a do-or-die game seven.
Game 7 will be on Sunday, January 15 at the Philippine Arena.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
