THEIR backs against the wall, Bay Area Dragons hope to have the benefit of a full-strength lineup for Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals against Barangay Ginebra.
Coach Brian Goorjian is positive having back import Andrew Nicholson and starting guard Glen Yang on Wednesday when the Dragons try to prevent the Kings from wrapping up the series.
Nicholson and Yang were both out in Sunday's Game 5 which the Kings won, 101-91, to take a pivotal 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Both Nicholson and Yang went down with ankle sprain, with the 6-foot-10 import also missing Game 4 won by the Dragons, 94-86.
"There's a chance. We're working very hard. And the fact that we played three games in the last five days, we've got a three-day period now, and we're hoping we're going to get those two guys," said the Bay Area coach.
Sponsored content: Percentage-wise, Goorjian gave Yang a better chance of suiting up, while considering Nicholson's case as 50-50.
"I'll put 75-25 on Glen," said Goorjian.
As for Nicholson, the Bay Area coach said, 'I'd say 50-50. We lose, we are out. It's to that point. So if there's any chance, we will roll the dice. I'm putting 50-50 there."
Not having Nicholson for the second straight game was huge for the Dragons, but Goorjian felt Yang's absence was the missing link in the Game 5 loss that saw Bay Area climbed its way back from an 18-point deficit to give Ginebra a big scare down the stretch.
"He (Yang) wasn't there tonight. And I miss him," said Goorjian of Yang, who played the whole 48 minutes of Game 4 despite hurting his ankle in the final seven minutes.
Sponsored content: "For our team, and the way we are put together, Glen is invaluable. That piece tonight, when the pressure was on, on the offensive end, trying to get a good shot, and get through our stuff, missing him was noticeable from a coaching standpoint."
Forward Hayden Blankley, who top scored for 29 points including 5-of-11 from three-point range, also hurt his ankle in the endgame and had to be carried over the shoulders by his two teammates on their way to the dugout.
But Goorjian said the Australian-born Blankley is good to play for the next game.
"Hayden is fine," added the Bay Area coach. (RG)
