Tag: PBA

Regardless if you love or hate them, the Bay Area Dragons added a new dimension of excitement to the PBA. 

OKBET players loved betting on games involving the Dragons, and fan interest in games involving the Dragons was also high. The record attendance during Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup final was evidence of the hype their entry created in the league.

With the quality of basketball and the amount of attention the Dragons generated for the league, people within the Philippine basketball scene began discussing whether this partnership could extend beyond the most recent PBA conference. 

Matt Beyer, the East Asia Super League’s CEO, said that both parties experienced benefits due to this partnership. They are open to more opportunities for Bay Area to play in future PBA Conferences.

Moreover, they opened the door for the league to expand to the Asian market. Beyer promised to help the Philippines’ premier professional basketball league get major rights deals in China and the greater Asian market. They also suggested that games be played in Macau or Hong Kong.

The EASL opened this possibility to the PBA due to the high quality of basketball they saw. The record viewership they saw from local hoops fans also made it a good idea for them to try to build a foothold in the Philippine market.

While it’s unlikely that they will topple the PBA in terms of local viewership, it will help expand their reach in the basketball-crazy nation.

Bay Area Learned From PBA Stint

The Bay Area Dragons fell short of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title after a solid finals series. Still, head coach Brian Goorjian is happy with his team’s experience.

Goorjian highlighted the importance of international competition after his team’s loss to the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings at the Philippine Arena. He stressed that the teams, the league, and the Asian basketball scene would improve if teams regularly competed with their neighbors.

The six-time NBL champion also shared that the atmosphere at the Philippine Arena and the gritty play of the Gin Kings will help his team grow as players. He said that his team had never played against a team like Ginebra, which should help sharpen their basketball skill by leaps and bounds.

Should the EASL and PBA work something out about Bay Area’s return to the league, Filipino basketball fans should expect a much more competitive Bay Area squad.

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The Philippine Arena was a fitting venue for the final game of the seven-game series between the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and Bay Area Dragons. Basketball fans who went to Bocaue, Bulacan, and passionate OKBET players, hoped the PBA Commissioner’s Cup would stay on Philippine soil.

The Gin Kings assured them of this after overpowering the visiting Dragons to win Game 7, 114-99. It was an outstanding all-around performance for the Gin Kings in front of a record crowd of 54,589.

Newly naturalized Justin Brownlee led Ginebra in scoring with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists. He was shooting well at 63%; he was also lethal from deep with a four-of-seven shooting clip.

However, the spotlight was on Christian Stanhardinger as he won Finals MVP honors for his excellent play. His performance throughout the series was consistently high for the Gin Kings, and his Game 7 numbers (12 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists on 54% shooting) gave him the nod.

The rest of Ginebra’s roster also stepped up in the big game. Jamie Malonzo was also unstoppable for Ginebra with his 22 points and 17 rebounds. Captain LA Tenorio’s 10 points and 6 assists were solid. Scottie Thompson chipped in with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. Japeth Aguilar rounded out Ginebra’s dominant display with 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.

The game started on even footing as the Dragons traded blows with Ginebra. However, Brownlee sank two threes, blowing the game out of the water. The Gin Kings got hot and ended the first quarter with a 27-21 lead.

The advantage ballooned further in the second quarter, and they didn’t let go of their advantage the entire game. The fourth-quarter scoring run the Dragons put on was too little, too late.

Cone Happy with How Ginebra Played

Tim Cone cemented his legacy as one of the PBA’s greatest coaches after adding another championship to his cabinet. However, Cone was delighted that the team performed better than expected.

He told the press in the post-Game 7 presser he was surprised with how well the team played against Bay Area. He also alluded that the energy the 54,000-strong crowd gave the team probably gave them the push they needed to win the do-or-die match.

This championship endears the Gin Kings to the hearts of Filipino hoops fans. How they handled a loaded team like Bay Area showcases the team’s timeless Never-Say-Die attitude that made millions of Filipinos fall in love with the team.

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