Cignal guns for crown vs CEU five

Cignal HD may have enough tools to complete a championship sweep but coach Boyet Fernandez reminded how Centro Escolar University could spoil any favorite.

So Fernandez wants his wards to play consistently when his Hawkeyes go for the crown in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Thursday.

“This is a team capable of coming back and if you give them that chance, then we have a problem,” Fernandez said of the Scorpions, who stunned No. 1 Flying V in the semifinals.

The Scorpions, who rose from a 0-1 deficit in the semifinals, hope to replicate that feat and force a decider in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals at 5 p.m. at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

“We’re not quitting,” said CEU coach Yong Garcia. “I always push my players to give their best and come out competing. That’s important because it’s not often that we reach the championship.”

Cignal took Game 1, 78-56, in Game 1 last Tuesday. —JASMINE W. PAYO

Read more...