Dragons coach Goorjian likens Comm’s Cup Finals stint against crowd-darlings Gin Kings as ‘us against the world,’ but makes it clear they’re here to win

Coach Brian Goorjian has been harping on the new chapter of the Bay Area Dragons and will still experience the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Final series with Barangay Ginebra.

It involves the same role as the heel wrestler who has been mocked and booed by partisan fans since its inception and will last at least the next three games in the championship fight.

“It’s like joining the military. It’s us against the world. Helmets, let’s go,” said Brian Goorjian as the Dragons forced a split in the first two games after winning 99-82 on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

That’s the mentality that the visiting team from Hong Kong has embraced, especially after getting a breakthrough win against the Gin Kings during a week off to celebrate the new year.

“I thought they knew, and I told them, [being in the Finals] don’t come often. Enjoy the experience, get out of this environment and play under this pressure. Of course it’s something you like,” Goorjian added.

The Bay Area snapped the best-of-seven event by shrugging off the effects of a Christmas Day loss three nights earlier with a more comfortable performance even before 16,044 didn’t want to see the Dragons win in the Big Dome.

Good sniping

Import Andrew Nicholson seems to have found an antidote to the following physique while Zhu Songwei has a strong start behind the versatility of attacking the basket and hitting outside shots.

Another important factor is Bay Area’s outside shooting, which slightly improved from 31 percent (13-of-42) to 36 percent (11-of-30) in Game 2. But the timing of how the Dragons converted in both halves was huge. since the capture can make it difficult for the Gin Kings to return.

Hayden Blankley missed half of six three-pointers in a huge recovery from missing nine of the Bay Area’s 96-81 Game 1 setback.

“I told the group to do what they did in the last game. Take shots, you have my full support. I will train other football – rebounding, defense,” he said.

Goorjian bolstered the rotation by giving heavy playing time to Nicholson, Zhu, Glen Yang, Kobey Lam, Blankley and Ju Mingxin, another local player who has started to play an important role at this stage of the campaign.

Ju scored nine points, including one last three in the first quarter. While the Dragons had a 17-point advantage when he was on the floor, he was tasked primarily with defensive purposes against Justin Brownlee and Ginebra’s other wing players.

The complete turnaround of learning the Finals experienced the hard way is positive for Goorjian and the Dragons, who hope to see the growth translate into three more victories against the Gin Kings and their supporters.

“A lot of talk about being young and learning and all that. We’re here through this process to win. I’ve been in this game for a long time. You don’t go in [the Finals] mass. I don’t,” Goorjian said.

“And when I go in and go in, I try to make them understand, this doesn’t happen often. How many guys have played in one before? No hands up.”

“So this is special. Learn on the hop. We are here to win,” he said. INQ

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