Bay Area Dragons’ PBA future in jeopardy following abrupt disbandment

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Bay Area Dragons will most likely withdraw from their upcoming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) stint after disheartening news went viral on social media.

Last September 1, 2023, the East Asia Super League (EASL) decided to break up the Bay Area in a reported online meeting with the staff and committee.

According to multiple sources, the EASL already informed the team that they will be contracting all of their live contracts despite the squad’s ongoing training for the PBA.

This move surprised everyone as Bay Area was fresh off signing five new players while also announcing that they would be retaining the contracts of their eight mainstay stars.

Last July 19, 2023, the Bay Area management announced that they would be making a comeback in the PBA after playing as a visiting team during the import-laced conference.

Bay Area’s team captain Duncan Reid even said that this conference will be their redemption season after exiting the last game of the finals in a disappointing manner when they got crushed by the Gin Kings during Game 7, 114-99.

The last lineup featured a high-octane team that likes to shoot from the outside and can also score efficiently from the shaded lane led by former NBA talent Myles Powell.

Powell’s latest active professional hoops activity was during the 2023 NBA Summer League when he rendered his services to the Houston Rockets.

Despite an injury-plagued stint with Houston, Powell still earned his minutes and was able to crack into the rotation of the Western Conference team.

Bay Area’s return to the country’s biggest professional hoops league was also a delight to the current commissioner Willie Marcial who is throwing his full support regarding their comeback.

Now with the recent turnaround, the EASL is yet to address the matter and finalize the fate of the Bay Area as time is ticking before the PBA season kicks off.