Cignal holds off Batangas for 6th straight win

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Cignal HD survived a scare from a tough Batangas side and escaped with a 70-66 victory for its sixth win in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Jason Perkins showed the way for the Hawkeyes with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Oping Sumalinog added 15 markers, three boards, and three dimes, including the game-sealing undergoal stab with 24.2 seconds left for the marginal lead.

“We knew that we needed to win our next games if we want to get to that top two spot,” said coach Boyet Fernandez.

“We had to bring somebody down, and all the credit to coach Eric Gonzales, Batangas really is a good team and they also deserve to win. But we’re just happy that we got this win and we still have a chance for that top two.”

Raymar Jose almost nabbed a double-double with his eight points and 12 rebounds, while Byron Villarias and Harold Arboleda both got eight for Cignal, which improved its record to 7-2.

The Batangueños refused to let go of the game and even took a 66-65 lead with 1:18 to play after a James Forrester jumper.

Arboleda responded with a trey to reclaim the lead for the Hawkeyes in the last 57 seconds, but Forrester would turn the ball over on the other end to take the air out of the feisty Batangas crew.

CJ Isit topped Batangas (4-2) with 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists in the loss.

The Scores:

CIGNAL HD 70 – Perkins 15, Sumalinog 15, Arboleda 8, Jose 8, Villarias 8, Atkins 6, Bringas 4, Raymundo 4, Batino 2, Arong 0, Cahilig 0, Sara 0.

BATANGAS 66 – Isit 14, Bautista 9, Saitanan 9, Sedurifa 8, De Joya 7, Ablaza 6, Forrester 5, Laude 5, Ragasa 2, Dela Pena 1, Anderson 0, Mangabang 0, Mendoza 0, Napoles 0.

Quarters: 14-15, 34-33, 55-49, 70-66.