Bay Area switches from Nicholson to Powell for the rest of the PBA Finals

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The man who put up a streak of insane numbers during the 2022-2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup regular season will be making his highly-anticipated debut in the ongoing grand finals series.

Myles Powell, the import that the Bay Area Dragons activated during their successful campaign in the first half of the Commissioner’s Cup, will be returning in the biggest stage of the PBA after Andrew Nicholson was already ruled out of the championship series due to a severe foot injury.

Bay Area announced their latest move last January 10, 2023, in a bid to salvage their chance of winning the import-laced conference where they are currently down, 2-3.

Powell quickly stole the limelight away from the other imports when the Commissioner’s Cup began after leading Bay Area to an undefeated start in the first month of the league.

His dazzling array of offensive moves and high-level motor were also acknowledged by his opponents, including some of the PBA locals like NorthPort Batang Pier’s Robert Bolick.

Powell’s return to Bay Area will also prevent Nicholson’s attempt to come back when he is fit to play. Under PBA rules, an import who is already replaced once can’t go back with the same team.

Brian Goorjan, Bay Area’s head coach, said that reactivating Powell will increase their chances of forcing the championship series to a do-or-die Game 7.

Powell is also coming off an injury he suffered weeks before the PBA playoffs are about to kick off and questions about whether he is 100% in the Finals were immediately thrown.

Despite the doubts, the former NBA shooting guard already proved he is one of the most lethal scoring imports to ever grace the PBA.

Powell averaged an impressive 37.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals during an eight-game stint with the Dragons.

During his first two games in the PBA, Powell immediately made the headlines after dropping 41 points on their 133-87 win against Blackwater and 37 points against the Batang Pier.