By REYNALD MAGALLON
Bay Area head coach Brian Goorjian is thrilled to have a chance to play his first-ever Game 7 finals game, more so in an extraordinary setting where majority of the crowd inside a 55,000 seater arena will rooting against them.
Goorjian said the series is nothing but special for him so far especially with the first six games attracting mammoth crowds, wild and alive inside the venue – an experience the veteran coach admitted he has never been a part of in his illustrious coaching career.
“I look at everybody here and say I never been a part of anything like that was so special in that arena and how great of a basketball series is this been and what ‘s coming up next on Sunday is gonna be incredible,” said Goorjian as he looks forward to the conclusion of their epic seven-game series against Ginebra at the Philippine Arena on Sunday, Jan. 15.
That wouldn’t be possible however if not for the huge Game 6 win for Bay Area where Myles Powell carried the fight for the Dragons to score a pulsating 87-84 win to drag the series to a winner-take-all.
Glen Yang, injured and all, along with Zhu Songwei, Kobey Lam and Duncan Reid all had their share in the victory as they survived the blistering performance of Justin Brownlee that all but pumped the entire 22,000 people in attendance.
“I have never been in a seven game series. I told them this best of three we are losers we’re out 2-1, best of five, 3-2 we’re losers, we’re out and tonight we get to step up to the plate have a crack, leave nothing behind now again we’re playing with the bank’s money,” said Goorjian.
Playing in a prospect of 50,000 fans watching, Goorjian, regardless if they or lose, would be something special for him and for his young Dragons crew.
“50,000, I hope every seat on that place is sold out and that’s something nobody forgets because that’s another special game of basketball like it is tonight and let the cards fall where they may,” said the six-time Australia NBL champion who is looking to steer Bay Area to the first guest team to win a PBA title since 1980.
“I am just excited to be part of it and whatever goes one from here absolutely no complains everything’s been above board. I was told when I walked in and my team would be totally comfortable with it and again what an honor to be going (to a Game 7),” he added.
“Again this is something I could only imagine, sending this to everybody back home, look at the front, look at the venue, listen and now again, what’s coming up next is something I’m gonna treasure. my team would treasure,” said the outspoken mentor.
His players also share the same sentiment and are ready to embrace the villain role and the energy from an expected mammoth crowd rooting against them in Game 7.
“That’s a dream come true for all of us. None of us have played in front of that many people ever so we’re all excited and one game to win it all. We embrace that villain role. We know everyone is against us 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,” said Yang.
