UNLESS Bay Area Dragons make another last-minute change of import, Chris Ross won’t have the chance at taking on Myles Powell during the semifinals between the San Miguel Beermen and the Dragons in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
A severe foot injury sustained in practice kept the 6-foot-2 Powell out of the first round of the playoffs, and most likely also in the Dragons’ highly-awaited duel with the defending champion Beermen that starts on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
While the best-of-five series marks the first time Bay Area will be taking on a San Miguel Beer side with six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo around, the absence of Powell meant Ross won’t be taking on one of the most prolific small imports to play in the PBA .
“Yeah, was looking forward to the challenge,” said Ross of his supposed match up with Powell, easily one of the interesting sidebars of the Beermen-Dragons clash.
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Although aged 37 now, Ross is still considered one of the best backcourt defenders in the league as a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the latest of which came just last season.
Ross trying to put the cuffs on the explosive Powell is easily one of the most highly-anticipated match-ups in the conference, where the Bay Area import has so far imposed his offensive dominance by averaging 37 points per game, including a high of 50 (11-of-17 from beyond the arc) against Rain or Shine in the eliminations.
Powell, 25, was also not around when Bay Area took on San Miguel for the first time in the eliminations as it was Nicholson’s turn to play as import during that stretch as per the arrangement the Dragons had with the league prior to the start of the conference.
Nicholson proved to be a thorn in the side of the Fajardo-less Beermen as he finished with 39 points and 12 rebounds in a runaway 113-87 win.
The Dragons reactivated Nicholson for the playoffs following the injury to Powell, and he again proved to be a force underneath against Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals series, where he dropped 32 points and eight rebounds in a 126-96 win.
Powell was wearing an aircast during the game against the Elasto Painters and watched the action from the bench.
Coach Brian Goorjian said the health situation of the crafty import who’s unbeaten in the eigth games he played with the team is day-to-day.
“We’re going to keep monitoring his progress and we’re going to keep working the rehab and see where it takes us,” said Goorjian. “But let me tell you, he was really, really devastated because he was really excited to be a part of this playoffs, and playing in front of this fans against this competition. So it’s really a kick in the guts.”
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