Powell hits 41 as Dragons rout NLEX

Getting a step closer to an outright finals berth, Bay Area is also improving as a team.

Import Myles Powell had another explosive game as the Dragons scored a lopsided 118-98 victory over NLEX in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

NLEX, just couldn't keep up with the visiting squad's offensive superiority and the Hong Kong-based team scored its eighth victory in 10 games.

Powell knocked in 41 points, 24 in the first half. He had 13 of his team's 38 points in the second period when the Dragons broke the game wide open and posted a 64-45 advantage.

Bay Area posted leads by as high as 26, 71-45, in the early goings of the third and was never seriously threatened from there.

The Dragons are trying to put a lock at one of the top two berths in the tournament, but they have a bigger test in their next two games against tournament leader Magnolia on 19 November and TNT on 23 November.

Bay Area, however, is already guaranteed a playoff spot win or lose.

The Dragons were more efficient in shooting the ball against the Road Warriors, hitting 50.6 percent (45-of-89) while holding their rivals to just 38.6 percent (34-of-88) from the field.
It was the fourth straight loss for the Road Warriors, who are now in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the first bubble tournament two years ago. NLEX fell to 3-6 and dropped to 11th spot.

The Scores:
BAY AREA (118) — Powell 36, Yang 15, Blankley 13, Lam 12, Ju 11, Liu 11, Zhu 9, Song 6, Reid 4, Zheng 1, Ewing 0, Si 0, Liang 0.

NLEX (98) — Clark 17, Trollano 15, Chua 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Rosales 12, Alas 10, Paniamogan 6, Celda 5, Varilla 4, Miranda 2, Fonacier 0, Ighalo 0.
QUARTERS: 26-21, 64-45, 91-71, 118-98.