Dragons win on buzzer-beater

MANILA, Philippines — For about 47 minutes and 47 seconds of highly physical basketball, defeat seemed imminent for the Bay Area Dragons against hard-fighting NorthPort.

Then Myles Powell, the Dragons’ explosive import, saved the day with a gutsy triple at the buzzer.

Given one last chance when Kobey Liam retrieved the leather off Roi Sumang’s missed trey with 13 ticks to play, the Dragons went to Powell for the long bomb that sealed a pulsating 105-104 victory.

With a 2-0 win-loss card, the guest team from Hong Kong took pole position in the young PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the MOA Arena while sending the Batang Pier to 1-1.

“Pleased to get out here alive but lessons learned for the Dragons,” said Bay Area coach Brian Goorjian after surviving the ambush.

It was no doubt a tougher road to victory for Bay Area, which was essentially untouchable in a 133-87 rout of Blackwater last Wednesday.

The Batang Pier, putting up a resolute and aggressive stand against the foreign power, not only had themselves in the thick of the fight but in good position to score the upset when they led, 104-102, on back-to-back baskets by Robert Bolick and Sumang, 1:05 left.

But Bay Area got some breaks with NorthPort’s Arwind Santos and Sumang flubbing the insurance shots. Powell launched a last-second three over the lengthy Prince Ibeh.

Clean as a whistle.

Later, Baser Amer rifled in 24, Cameron Krutwig made 17-16-7 and Troy Rosario debuted with 15-10 as Blackwater posted a 97-85 bounceback W over Phoenix.

The Bossing improved to 1-1 and ended a seven-game losing streak dating back to the last Governors’ Cup. The Fuel Masters fell to 0-2.