Cignal razes Wangs, cruises to win no. 6

Jason Perkins. PBA IMAGES

Cignal HD hardly broke a sweat and decimated Wangs Basketball, 94-69, to claim its fifth straight win in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Coming off a nine-day layoff, the Hawkeyes didn’t look like they missed a beat as they went on a blazing 26-5 opening salvo and were not threatened the rest of the way, extending the lead to as high as 34 numerous times in the payoff period.

Jason Perkins and Oping Sumalinog took charge for Cignal early as they combined for 20 of the team’s 32 first quarter points.

“Credit to my starters. They stepped up their defense and that’s why we got to that big lead early,” said coach Boyet Fernandez, whose side got their sixth overall win.

Perkins led the charge with 24 points, 12 coming in the killer opening frame, on top of five rebounds, and two blocks, while Sumalinog added eight of his 15 markers in the same quarter, along with five boards, and two rejections.

Pamboy Raymundo chipped in 18 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals, while Raymar Jose got it done on the defensive end with eight markers, 12 boards, three assists, and three steals as the Hawkeyes improved to a 6-2 card.

With two games remaining in Cignal’s schedule, Fernandez said that the most pressing matter for him right now is the team’s consistency.

“Even though we’re up and down, I want to see that our system is always there,” he said.

John Ambulodto carried Wangs with 19 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks, while Ryan Arambulo got 14 markers and three boards.

The Hawkeyes defense held usual suspects Robbie Herndon (seven points), Chris Bitoon (six points), and Michael Juico (two points) to poor scoring outings as the Couriers saw their two-game winning run halted for a 3-3 slate.

The Scores:

CIGNAL HD 94 – Perkins 24, Raymundo 18, Sumalinog 15, Villarias 10, Jose 8, Bringas 6, Arong 4, Belencion 3, Atkins 2, Sara 2, Cahilig 2, Batino 0, Arboleda 0.

WANGS BASKETBALL 69 – Ambulodto 19, Arambulo 14, De Chavez 12, Habelito 7, Herndon 7, Bitoon 6, Juico 2, Sorela 2, Montemayor 0, Asuncion 0, King 0, Tayongtong 0, Pontejos 0, Riley 0.

Quarters: 32-11, 52-27, 74-42, 94-69.