Cignal Honor

Hawkeyes survive Tile Masters, rule D-L Aspirants Cup

MANILA, Philippines -  Cignal-San Beda struggled against an inspired Racal side in the first 20 minutes and needed a signal performance from the Hawkeyes which Javee Mocon finally dished out at crunchtime to beat the Tile Masters, 81-78, and snare the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

Mocon scored all but two of Cignal’s last 13 points as he anchored the Hawkeyes’ fiery comeback from 29-42 down in their sudden death for the league’s season-opening championship. 

The San Beda forward finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, and two assists to help deliver the first championship for Cignal and seventh for coach Boyet Fernandez.

“I think it’s with the two years that I was out. I have learned so many lessons. When I came back, the lessons I’ve learned I used in this lineup and I thank my players who accepted the system right away,” said Fernandez, who won his first six D-League titles with NLEX.

“The boys just refused to give up. Mocon did a good job. He’s been very positive and he stepped up big for us,” said Fernandez of Mocon, who atoned for his seven-point output in the team’s 90-100 setback in Game Two that set up the winner-take-all match.

“I just gave it all. I am grateful to my teammates because they knew I was in a zone. I did everything, defensively and offensively,” said Mocon, who topscored for the Hawkeyes with 25 points on a 10-for-18 clip, hauled down seven rebounds and made two steals and one assist.

Conference MVP Robert Bolick, who struggled with a 1-for-7 shooting in the first half, sealed the victory for the Hawkeyes with two crucial free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining in the contest.

Jason Perkins also dropped 21 markers, grabbed five boards and made three blocks for Cignal, which took the series’ opener 93-85.

For awhile, the Tile Masters looked headed for a repeat of their Game Two win, posting leads of as many as 13 in the second quarter.

But the Hawkeyes regrouped at resumption, coming through with a 13-5 run to force a tie at 48, setting up the down-to-the-wire finish.

Cignal grabbed a 75-70 lead with 3:48 left in the contest but Jackson Corpuz pulled Racal back to within one, 78-79, with 36.3 seconds remaining before Bolick bucked the pressure and canned in two charities to preserve the lead and the victory for the Hawkeyes.

“I got frustrated (in the first half). Racal was ready with their defense so I said let’s just mix it up. Let’s just rotate the ball and eventually it will turn in our favor. That’s what happened and I’m very happy,” he added.

The Tile Masters still had a chance to force overtime but Rey Nambatac misfired his triple bid at the buzzer.

Corpuz topped the Tile Masters with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Joseph Gabayni added 18 markers and nine rebounds.