{{Short description|Basketball team based in Hong Kong}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox NBA team | name = Bay Area Dragons | current = | logo = Bay_Area_Dragons_2021-2023_logo.png | image_size = 200px | leagues = [[East Asia Super League]]<br>[[Philippine Basketball Association]] (guest team) | founded = 2021 | dissolved = 2023 | history = Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes{{efn|name=unused-names|Never competed under these names}} (2021–2022) <br/> Bay Area Dragons (2022–2023)<br />Chun Yu Bay Area Dragons{{efn|name=unused-names}} (2023) | arena =[[Southorn Stadium]] | capacity =1,995 | location = [[Hong Kong]] | colors = | sponsor = | president = | gm = | coach = | owner = [[East Asia Super League]] ([[franchise (sports)|franchise]]) | affiliation = | championships = | website = | 1_pattern_b = | 1_shorts = | 1_pattern_s = | 2_body = | 2_pattern_b = | 2_shorts = | 2_pattern_s = }} The '''Bay Area Dragons''' were a professional [[basketball]] team in the [[East Asia Super League]]. Based in [[Hong Kong]], the team was meant to represent the [[Greater China]] region.
Established in 2021, the team competed in the [[2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup]] in the [[Philippines]] as a guest team and in the [[2023 EASL Champions Week]]. They were disbanded in September 2023.
==History== ===Formation=== The Dragons were originally formed as the Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes, a [[Franchising|franchise]] team for the [[East Asia Super League]], representing [[Greater China]]. [[Hong Kong]] was made as the home venue of the Phoenixes.<ref name=newformat-mna>{{cite news |last1=Moura |first1=Nelson |title=2022 East Asia Super League format to include new GBA basketball team franchise with local players |url=https://www.macaubusiness.com/2022-east-asia-super-league-format-to-include-new-gba-basketball-team-franchise-with-local-players/ |access-date=2 December 2021 |work=MacauBusiness.com |agency=Macau News Agency |date=1 December 2021}}</ref> Both the Phoenixes and the [[P. League+]] champions of [[Taiwan]] were designated by the EASL as Greater China's representatives.<ref>{{cite web |title=East Asia Super League Debuts Season 1 of Premier Home-and-Away Pan-Regional League in 2022 |url=https://easl.basketball/east-asia-super-league-debuts-season-1-of-premier-home-and-away-pan-regional-league-in-2022/ |publisher=East Asia Super League |access-date=22 February 2022 |quote=The newly formed Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes and the championship team from Chinese Taipei’s P.LEAGUE+, will be the Greater China representatives. |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222161913/https://easl.basketball/east-asia-super-league-debuts-season-1-of-premier-home-and-away-pan-regional-league-in-2022/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The team was established under the agreement of the Hong Kong Basketball Association and Chun Yu Basketball Club.<ref name=scmp1>{{cite news |last1=McNicol |first1=Andrew |title=East Asia Super League wants to bring professional basketball team to Hong Kong |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3157910/east-asia-super-league-forms-hong-kong-based-bay-area-chun-yu |access-date=2 December 2021 |work=South China Morning Post |date=1 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The Phoenixes are the only franchise team in the EASL, with other participating teams seeded from domestic leagues from [[Japan]], Taiwan, [[South Korea]] and the [[Philippines]].<ref name=newformat-mna/>
Former [[Chinese Basketball Association]] general manager Liu Quansheng was appointed as the team's first general manager.<ref name=scmp1/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Aye |first1=John |title=EASL looking to rise as world's third-biggest league |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/east-asia-super-league-aims-high-from-startup-to-big-3-a1714-20211201?ref=home_featured_2 |access-date=2 December 2021 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=1 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
===Participation in the PBA=== They entered the [[2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup|2022–23 Commissioner's Cup]] of the [[Philippine Basketball Association]] which started in September 2022 as a guest team.<ref>{{cite news |title=EASL Greater China rep to see action in PBA|url=https://pba.ph/news/easl-greater-china-rep-to-see-action-in-pba |access-date=February 23, 2022 |website=PBA.ph |date=February 18, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Joble |first1=Rey |title=Bay Area Dragons' Myles Powell, Liu Chuanxing look forward to playing in PBA |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/12/22/guest-squad-bay-area-dragons-look-forward-to-pba-stint |access-date=5 September 2022 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=12 August 2022}}</ref> The team also changed their name to the "Bay Area Dragons" upon joining the PBA, to avoid confusion with the [[Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Gerry |title=PBA to welcome first foreign guest team in 22 years |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/easl-hong-kong-team-gets-pba-nod-as-guest-squad-next-season-a793-20220320 |access-date=20 March 2022 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=19 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Naredo |first1=Camille |title=Hong Kong's Bay Area Dragons to join PBA as guest team |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/21/22/hong-kongs-bay-area-dragons-to-join-pba-as-guest-team |access-date=21 March 2022 |date=21 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EASL Members {{!}} Bay Area Dragons |url=https://easl.basketball/easl-members/bay-area-dragons/ |website=East Asia Super League |publisher=East Asia Super League Ltd. |access-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321144924/https://easl.basketball/easl-members/bay-area-dragons/ |archive-date=21 March 2022}}</ref> In May 2022, former [[National Basketball League (Australia)|NBL]] coach and incumbent [[Australia men's national basketball team|Australia Boomers]] head coach [[Brian Goorjian]] was announced as the team's first head coach.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bay Area Dragons appoint NBL legend Goorjian as head coach |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3177499/bay-area-dragons-appoint-six-time-australian-nbl-champion-brian |access-date=19 May 2022 |work=South China Morning Post |date=12 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
The Bay Area Dragons reached the [[2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals]], becoming the fourth guest team to reach the last stage of a PBA competition.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Jonas |title=Bay Area goes for kill vs San Miguel Beer |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/490507/bay-area-goes-for-kill-vs-san-miguel-beer |access-date=15 January 2023 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=18 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> They could only field one of their two foreign players or import at a time in selected games.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henson |first1=Joaquin |title=Bay Area’s dilemma |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/09/27/2212441/bay-areas-dilemma |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=27 September 2022}}</ref> However, they would lose to the [[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]], 4–3.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ginebra pulls off Game 7 rout of Bay Area before biggest PBA crowd ever |language=en |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/ginebra-beats-bay-area-dragons-in-game-7-to-become-champion-a795-20230115 |access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref>
===EASL Champions Week=== The Dragons took part in the [[2023 EASL Champions Week]] tournament where they finished third.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dalupang |first1=Denison Rey |title=EASL: Bay Area secures third place |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/499564/easl-bay-area-secures-third-place |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=5 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
===Planned PBA return and 2023–24 EASL participation=== They were set to return in the Commissioner's Cup of the [[2023–24 PBA season]]. However, they would be allowed to field one import for the whole conference.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=John Mark |title=PBA sets terms for Bay Area return: ‘Yung imports, 'di na pwede dalawa’ |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/willie-marcial-on-bay-area-dragons-return-to-pba-a5172-20230520 |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=21 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Castillo |first1=Musong R. |title=PBA: Only one import allowed for Bay Area Dragons in next Commissioner’s Cup |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/511896/pba-only-one-import-allowed-for-bay-area-dragons-in-next-commissioners-cup |access-date=27 May 2023 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=27 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref> They underwent a rebrand and renamed themselves as the Chun Yu Bay Area Dragons. They were set to return to Hong Kong with their PBA games planned to be held there.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Times |title=Bay Area comes home to Hong Kong |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/bay-area-comes-home-to-hong-kong/276926 |access-date=19 July 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=19 July 2023}}</ref> The team which were also set to take part in the [[2023–24 East Asia Super League|2023–24 EASL season]] would sign five new players and retain eight players.<ref>{{cite news |title=East Asia Super League sacks entire Bay Area Dragons team during online meeting |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3233152/east-asia-super-league-entire-bay-area-dragons-team-sacked-during-online-meeting-players-told |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=South China Morning Post |date=1 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
===Disbandment=== The Dragons' participation in the PBA and EASL was effectively cancelled after the EASL announced the Dragons's disbandment on 1 September 2023 reportedly due to financial reasons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=EASL disbands Bay Area Dragons ahead of PBA Comm's Cup |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/easl-disbands-bay-area-dragons-ahead-of-tournaments/280223 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=1 September 2023}}</ref> The EASL mentions "conflict of interest" for managing a team and organizing the league at the same time as the official reason for dissolving the club.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=EASL cites 'conflict of interest' as reason for Bay Area disbandment |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/easl-cites-conflict-of-interest-as-reason-for-bay-area-disbandment/280672 |access-date=5 September 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=5 September 2023}}</ref>
==Home venue== The [[Southorn Playground|Southorn Stadium]], an indoor arena in [[Wan Chai]], [[Hong Kong]] was the designated home venue of the Dragons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Mike |title=Bay Area Dragons to face region’s best in Hong Kong in EASL’s second season |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3228821/bay-area-dragons-face-regions-best-basketball-sides-hong-kong-east-asia-super-league-returns-second |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=South China Morning Post |date=25 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Villanueva |first1=Ralph Edwin |title=Bay Area Dragons announce PBA return |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2023/07/19/2282239/bay-area-dragons-announce-pba-return |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=19 July 2023}}</ref> However they never played any competitive EASL or PBA games in the venue since the team got disbanded.
==Season-by-season records== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" |- !scope="col"| Season !scope="col"| League !scope="col"| Finish !scope="col"| Wins !scope="col"| Losses !scope="col"| [[Winning percentage|Win%]] !scope="col"| Playoffs |- |rowspan=2| 2022–23 || [[2022–23 PBA season|PBA]]<br>([[2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup|Commissioner's]]) ||bgcolor=silver| 2nd || 17 || 7 || .588 || '''Won''' Quarterfinals ([[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters|Rain or Shine]]) 1–0<br>'''Won''' Semifinals ([[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]) 3–1<br>Lost Finals ([[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel|Barangay Ginebra]]) 3–4 |- | [[2023 EASL Champions Week|EASL]] ||bgcolor=#cc9966| 3rd || 2 || 1 || .667 || '''Won''' Third place game ([[Ryukyu Golden Kings|Ryukyu]]) 90–70 |- |rowspan=2| 2023–24 || [[2023–24 PBA season|PBA]]<br>([[2023–24 PBA Commissioner's Cup|Commissioner's]]) ||colspan=5 {{N/A|Withdrew}} |- | [[2023–24 East Asia Super League|EASL]]||colspan=5 {{N/A|Withdrew}} |- |}
==List of notable personnel== ===Players=== <!---Only those who played---> *{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Andrew Nicholson (basketball)|Andrew Nicholson]]<ref name="powell-activated">{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Gerry |title=As Powell is reactivated, here's the only way Nicholson can come back |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/bay-area-dragons-choose-import-myles-powell-over-nicholson-a793-20221110 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=10 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> *{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Liu Chuanxing]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Bay Area Dragons sign 7-foot-5 Liu ahead of PBA stint, EASL |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/big-liu-signs-with-bay-area-dragons-ahead-of-pba-stint-easl-a994-20220623 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |agency=Associated Press |date=23 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> *{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Liu Xiaoyu (basketball)|Liu Xiaoyu]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Eaton |first=Matt |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3188409/bay-area-dragons-sign-cba-veterans-ahead-east-asia-super-league |title=Bay Area Dragons sign CBA veterans ahead of East Asia Super League season opener |website=South China Morning Post |date=August 10, 2022 |access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref> *{{flagicon|HKG}}{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Duncan Reid]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Agcaoili |first1=Lance |title=Duncan Reid banners Bay Area Dragons team for PBA, EASL |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/467549/duncan-reid-banners-bay-area-dragons-team-for-pba-easl |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=23 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> *{{flagicon|PHI}}{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sedrick Barefield]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Gerry |title=Sedrick Barefield Bay Area contract only for EASL Champions Week |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/sedric-barefield-bay-area-contract-only-for-easl-champions-week-a793-20230207 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=7 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref> *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Myles Powell]]<ref name="powell-activated"/>
===Coaches=== *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brian Goorjian]] (Head coach) *{{flagicon|PHI}} [[Pocholo Villanueva]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Cholo Villanueva is Bay Area's 'real MVP' |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/cholo-villanueva-bay-area-dragons-assistant-coach-secret-weapon-pba-commissioner-s-cup-a794-20221222 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Spin.ph |date=22 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> (Assistant coach)
==2022–23 season roster== {{Basketball roster header|type=NBL|season=2022–23|team=Bay Area Dragons| bg1 = #000000 | color1 = #FFAC05 | bg2 = #E62419 | color2 = #FFFFFF}} {{player2 | num = 0 | name = Scotty Ewing | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 161 | DOB = 1991–04–10 | nat = USA }} {{player2 | num = 1 | name = Glen Yang | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1996–08–30 | nat = HKG }} {{player2 | num = 2 | name = Sedrick Barefield | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1996–11–18| nat = PHI }} {{player2 | num = 6 | name = Si Kun | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 203 | DOB = 1995–02–27 | nat = CHN }} {{player2 | num = 8 | name = Zhu Songwei | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 226 | DOB = 1996–11–09 | nat = CHN }} {{player2 | num = 9 | name = Ju Mingxin | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 205 | DOB = 1993–03–10 | nat = CHN }} {{player2 | num = 11 | name = Hayden Blankley | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 212 | DOB = 2000–07–04 | nat = AUS }} {{player2 | num = 13 | name = Myles Powell | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1997–07–07 | nat = USA | note = I }} {{player2 | num = 15 | name = Warren Liang | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 198 | DOB = 1993–09–19 | nat = CAN }} {{player2 | num = 16 | name = Song Jianhua | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 204 | DOB = 1991–01–20 | nat = CHN }} {{player2 | num = 21 | name = Liu Chuanxing | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 5 | lbs = 287 | DOB = 1999–07–30 | nat = CHN }} {{player2 | num = 22 | name = Kobey Lam | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 170 | DOB = 2000–03–02 | nat = CAN }} {{player2 | num = 25 | name = Zheng Qilong | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 198 | DOB = 1996–04–10 | nat = CHN }} {{player2 | num = 31 | name = Zhang Zhiyuan | pos = C | dab = basketball | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 220 | DOB = 1999–05–08 | nat = CHN }} {{player2 | num = 33 | name = Duncan Reid | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 220 | DOB = 1989–09–28 | nat = HKG }} {{player2 | num = 44 | name = Andrew Nicholson | pos = F/C | dab = basketball | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 250 | DOB = 1989–12–08 | nat = CAN | note = I }} <!-- end player list --> {{PBA roster footer | head_coach = *{{player||AUS|[[Brian Goorjian]]}} | asst_coach = *{{player||PHI|[[Pocholo Villanueva]]}} *{{player||USA|[[Bill Tomlinson (basketball)|Bill Tomlinson]]}} |team_man = *{{player||PHI|[[Maya Montecillo]]}} }}
==Honours== '''[[Philippine Basketball Association]] (PBA)''': :Runners-up (1): [[2022–23 PBA season|2022–23]] [[2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup|Commissioner's Cup]]
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://easl.basketball/easl-members/bay-area-dragons/ Bay Area Dragons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321144924/https://easl.basketball/easl-members/bay-area-dragons/ |date=2022-03-21 }} – East Asia Super League Profile
{{East Asia Super League}}
[[Category:2021 establishments in Hong Kong]] [[Category:2023 disestablishments in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Basketball teams established in 2021]] [[Category:Basketball teams disestablished in 2023]] [[Category:Basketball teams in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Guest Philippine Basketball Association teams]] [[Category:East Asia Super League teams]]