Dragons ready for Game of Death – environment, all

MANILA, Philippines — It’s going to be a hostile ground out there with more than 50,000-strong Barangay Ginebra faithful poised to flood them with boos and verbal jabs.

But the Bay Area Dragons are unfazed, expressing readiness to tackle such a tough environment head-on as they eye their own coronation as the Season 47 PBA Commissioner’s Cup champions tomorrow at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue.

“That’s a dream come true for all of us,” said Bay Area playmaker Glen Yang of playing Game 7 in front of an expected mammoth crowd that may even surpass the five-year-old league record of 54,084.

“We always say it in the locker room. None of us have played in front of that many people, so we’re all excited. One game to win it all, you can’t ask for more than that.”

The Dragons have actually shown their ability to tune out the jeers and silence Ginebra’s Sixth Man in taking down the clincher-gunning Gin Kings in Game 6, 87-84, in front of 22,361.

That number is expected to double as the crowd darlings take a second and final crack at the coveted trophy.

“The first few games, I think (the crowd) affected us. But at this point, we love it. We embrace the villain role,” said Yang.

“We know everyone is against us but at the end of the day, it’s fun. You’d rather have that than no one in the crowd. So it’s a good time,” he added.

Ginebra thrives on drawing energy from the crowd and getting it screaming and chanting is vital.

“We have to constantly involve the crowd,” said Gin Kings skipper LA Tenorio. “Pero they did a good job also of silencing the crowd (in Game 6). Nakita natin hindi rin sila (Dragons) tumitigil, they know how to play in these situations.”

Notes: After Phoenix, it’s NorthPort’s turn to tweak its think tank ahead of the Governors’ Cup kickoff. Batang Pier team manager Bonnie Tan took over the head coaching position as he switched places with Pido Jarencio....Terrafirma signed guards JP Calvo and Ed Daquioag to extension deals. Daquioag inked a one-year contract while Calvo was signed for the rest of Season 47.