INJURIES have suddenly hit the Bay Area Dragons squad in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, but head coach Brian Goorjian is confident they can get back to full strength now that their backs now against the wall.
Andrew Nicholson remained out during Sunday’s 101-91 loss to Barangay Ginebra after spraining his ankle in Game Three. But adding to the woes of Bay Area was the absence of Glen Yang, who also sprained his ankle in Game Four.
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But Goorjian expressed optimism about their return, particularly Yang.
“There is a chance that both will play,” Goorjian said. “We are working very hard and the fact that we played three games in five days, we have a three-day period now and we are hoping that we are going to get the two back."
When asked percentage-wise, Goorjian pegged Nicholson as 50-50, with Yang at 75-25.
“I’d say 50-50,” said Goorjian of Nicholson. “I knew tonight was a struggle… We lose, we are out. It’s to that point. So if there’s any chance, we will roll the dice. I’m putting 50-50 there.”
“I’ll put 75-25 on Glen,” said Goorjian.
Bay Area also got a scare when Hayden Blankley also rolled his ankle late in Game Five, but Goorjian quickly allayed fears that he could be out on Wednesday.
“Hayden is fine,” said Goorjian.
Goorjian admitted Yang’s absence was felt in Game Five, especially when the Dragons were trying to mount a comeback.
“For our team, and the way we are put together, Glen is invaluable. That piece tonight, when the pressure was on, on the offensive end, trying to get a good shot, and get through our stuff, missing him was noticeable from a coaching standpoint.
"He is the one I always [instruct], ‘Run this set, run this, hey we got to get the ball here.’ He wasn’t there tonight. And I miss him,” said Goorjian.
Goorjian, though, said he appreciated Yang playing on after rolling his ankle in the Dragons' Game Four win.
“When I saw Glen’s video after the game, I was amazed and proud that he played that last seven minutes. He really snapped it and blew up. It’s purple. So for him to stay in that last seven minutes, if we hadn’t, we would have not won,” said Goorjian.
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