BAY Area Dragons hope to make it four wins in a row with import Myles Powell when they take on Converge FiberXers in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is 5:45 p.m. with Powell looking to help the Hong Kong-based Dragons keep their perfect record before giving way to fellow import Andrew Nicholson.

Powell, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers, leads the legue in scoring with 36.7 points per game in the Dragons’ perfect start.

But he will give way to the 6-10 Nicholson since only one import per team is allowed in this import-spiced conference.

With Nicholson around, Bay Area is expected to get even bigger — and better.

A certified NBA veteran with Orlando, Washington and Brooklyn, Nicholson will make his PBA debut against the Barangay Ginebra Kings on Sunday.

The FiberXers of coach Aldin Ayo are gunning for their second win in three matches with import Quincy Miles leading the way.

Late Wednesday, Magnolia Chicken Timplados bucked the absence of import Nick Rakocevic to subdue TNT Tropang Giga, 94-92, and join Bay Area at the top with three straight victories.

Calvin Abueva finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Paul Lee added 16 points, including the game-winning free throws in the last four seconds to power the Hotshots to victory.

Backing them up are Mark Barroca (13 points, five assists and three reboundss) and Aris Dionisio (nine points and six rebounds).

Magnolia lost Rakocevic down on the floor with an injured right knee after a freak accident with 6:40 left.

“We’re happy to win the game, but we’re sad Rakocevic got hurt. We pray it’s just a minor injury,”said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

Cameron Oliver topscored for TNT with 43 points, followed by Roger Pogoy with 23

The scores:

Magnolia (94) – Abueva 25, Rakocevic 22, Lee 16, Barroca 13, Dionisio 9, Corpuz 5, Mendoza 3, Wong 1, Zaldivar 0, Reavis 0, Jalalon 0.
TNT (92) – Oliver 43, Pogoy 23, Oftana 12, Montalbo 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Marcelo 3, Alejandro 3, Cruz 0, Tungcab 0, K.Williams 0.
Quartercores: 26-29, 42-54, 62-73, 94-92.

Games Friday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Meralco
5:45 p.m. — Bay Area vs. Converge

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya