Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Reigning back-to-back titlist Cignal HD-San Beda will be returning to the PBA D-League after all.
Coach Boyet Fernandez and his boys are returning to defend the throne for the Hawkeyes as they push the participating teams this upcoming 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup to 13 squads.
Cignal will once again parade the core of the Red Lions, fresh from their triumph in NCAA Season 93, with 2017 Aspirants’ Cup Season MVP Robert Bolick and hardworking forward Javee Mocon counted on to provide the leadership.
The Hawkeyes edged Racal Motors in three games in the Aspirants’ Cup Finals last season before making it a championship double with a sweep of Centro Escolar University in the Foundation Cup.
Already the winningest mentor in the developmental ranks, Fernandez pushed his PBA D-League title collection to eight championships.
Cignal, however, has lost valuable members of its championship teams with Raymar Jose and Jason Perkins being picked in the top four of the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft and Pamboy Raymundo and Oping Sumalinog joining Tanduay Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League.
The Hawkeyes’ entry also increased the number of school-based teams to eight this first conference, while also bringing the count of participants to a record-tying 13, the same number of teams which joined the 2011 Foundation Cup.
Aside from Cignal, also joining this year are CEU, Tanduay, Marinerong Pilipino, Batangas-EAC, Zark’s Burger-Lyceum, JRU, AMA Online Education, Wangs Basketball, Gamboa Coffee Mix, and newcomers Perpetual, Powerball-St. Benilde, and Mila’s Lechon.
The 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup tips off on January 18.