Herndon to Marinero, Apinan to Cignal as D-League teams retool ahead of playoffs

Robbie Herndon. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

After failing to lead Wangs Basketball to the playoffs, Robbie Herndon gets a new lease on life, this time as a part of Marinerong Pilipino.

The Skippers secured a release for the Fil-Am scorer from the Couriers on Wednesday in time for the quarterfinals, beating the 12 noon deadline for roster changes.

Herndon averaged a league second-best 18.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in his 10 games with Wangs, helping the franchise achieve its best record since joining the developmental ranks.

Marinerong Pilipino coach Koy Banal is looking to integrate Herndon to his rising squad, which has won its last five games to advance to the playoffs.

“We’ll count on him to give us depth and outside shooting,” said the seasoned mentor, as Herndon will pair up with veteran Mark Isip, and upstarts Achie Iñigo, Pao Javelona, and Julian Sargent.

Also joining Herndon in the Skippers camp will be big man Jon Gabriel.

The sixth-seed Marinerong Pilipino will have to deal with a twice-to-win disadvantage in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup quarterfinals as it faces Tanduay on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Cignal HD signed up Jeckster Apinan from the free agent pool to bolster to its fort.

The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in the seven games he played for the now-Kia Picanto this season.

The Hawkeyes secured sniper Jonathan Uyloan on a loan from Meralco last Monday.

Finishing 8-2 in the eliminations, Cignal has earned an outright semifinals berth as it awaits the victor of the Tanduay-Marinerong Pilipino series.