Game 1: Will Cignal silence Racal big guns?

MANILA, Philippines -  Cignal-San Beda and Racal kick off their title clash today, hoping to take Game One that will give them the momentum to complete an amazing journey for a first ever crown.

The Hawkeyes and the Tile Masters need a fast start to be able to gain the initiative in the best-of-three finals series in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Both trailing 0-1 in their separate best-of-three semis tussles after gaining outright berths, the Hawkeyes and the Tile Masters  swept the last two games to arrange their title showdown.

Tip-off is at 4 p.m.

Cignal leaned on a strong second quarter showing to deny Tanduay a return trip to the finals with an imposing 88-65 victory, while Racal turned to its gunners in the payoff period, 78-74, to prevent Cafe France from avenging a finals heartbreak in the same conference of the previous season, last Tuesday.

The Hawkeyes and the Tile Masters automatically entered the semis after landing the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, but Cignal enjoys the edge of a 96-86 victory over Racal, its final victim in its eight-game romp in the eliminations.

However, Hawkeyes head coach Boyet Fernandez braces for a tough battle against the Tile Masters who have a wide range of offensive options in Kent Salado, Jackson Corpuz, Sidney Onwubere, Rey Nambatac and Allan Mangahas.

“I think it’s an all-star team. If you’re going to beat an all-star team, you really have to play defense and be disciplined about it. So hopefully, our defense will come out again and we can play solid defense against Racal,” said Fernandez, who noted how his team sputtered against a strong third quarter fightback of Racal in their elims win.

Jason Perkins, Javee Mocon, Robert Bolick and veteran Pamboy Raymundo are expected to carry the fight for Cignal as they try to help their mentor inch closer to a possible seventh title in the league.

Fernandez towed his former team, NLEX, to six crowns in seven finals appearances.

The Road Warriors have since moved to the PBA.

Racal chief tactician Jerry Codiñera, on the other hand, steered the Tile Masters to their first finals stint since joining the league in 2014.

Codiñera, who took over the helm for Racal this conference, will bank on their outside offensives through Mangahas, Roider Cabrera and Corpuz who hit huge three-pointers in the fourth quarter to give them a shot at the crown.