MYLES POWELL returns as the Hong Kong Bay Area Dragons’ import when they take on Rain or Shine Friday in Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The 6-foot-2 Powell replaces 6-foot-10 import Andrew Nicholson as Hong Kong resumes its playoff drive against the Elasto Painters in the 3 p.m. game, hoping to tie the Converge FiberXers at second spot with a 7-2 win-loss record.
Powell was a force in the Bay Area Dragons’ 4-0 start averaging 35.7 points and eight rebounds before Nicholson took over as part of the team’s program.
Nicholson was as tough and averaged 38.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in four games. He booked a conference-high 50 points in an 89-92 loss to Meralco last week.
Their other defeat was to Ginebra, 111-93, last October 9.
Rain or Shine, meanwhile, replaced import Steve Taylor with 6-foot-6 Ryan Pearson also hoping to improve on its 4-4 record.
Whether it’s Powell or Nicholson, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said either’s a tough player to stop.
“I think you are just picking your poison with those two guys because they can score 40 points,” Guiao said. “Either way, they are going to be a problem for us. We have our hands full.”
After beating the Dragons, Meralco, meanwhile, shoots for back-to-back wins as it battles Blackwater at 5:45 p.m.
The Bolts, led by returning import KJ McDaniels, are 2-5 won-lost with still four games left in their elimination round assignments. The Bossing lost three straight and are 3-6.
End it…end it