Games Friday:

(Philsports Arena)

3 p.m. – Bay Area vs Rain or Shine

5:45 p.m. – Magnolia vs Phoenix

Visiting squad Bay Area tries to put away Rain or Shine and move to the next phase while Magnolia marches with similar mentality when it faces Phoenix Super LPG in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the Philsports Arena.

The Dragons and the Hotshots, who are both carrying a twice-to-beat advantage, will go for the jugular in an explosive playoff double-header of this midseason conference.

Bay Area, which ended as the No. 1 team in the eliminations, battles Rain or Shine at 3 p.m. while Magnolia collides with Phoenix in the 5:45 p.m. featured encounter.

But on the eve of its playoff match, Bay Area decided to make a drastic change by bringing back Andrew Nicholson to replace its explosive import in Myles Powell.

The Dragons made the confirmation to Daily Tribune, saying that Powell suffered an acute hyperextended injury on his left toe that forced them to recall Nicholson, who averaged 38.5 points with an impressive 94.3 percent shooting from the free throws in four games of the eliminations.

The PBA Commissioner's Office and the Rain or Shine management also confirmed that they were informed of Bay Area's decision to bring back Nicholson, who has a tournament-high of 50 points in an 89-92 loss to Meralco on 4 November.

Powell returned and also dropped 50 points in just three quarters during the first time the Dragons walloped the Elasto Painters, 120-87, a week later.

More than that, Powell had led the Dragons to victories in all eight games where he played.