MANILA, Philippines – Cignal HD will not be defending both its Aspirant’s and Foundation Cup titles as it has filed a leave of absence in the PBA Developmental League.
Cignal team manager Borgie Hermida said the Hawkeyes, a club belonging to the Manny V. Pangilinan owned group of companies, have decided to take a break in the next conference set January next year, leaving the season a wide-open race.
“We will focus on our PBA campaign and our grassroots basketball program led by our NLEX Road Warriors team,” Hermida on Tuesday told The STAR.
While Hermida neither confirmed nor denied it, Cignal HD’s surprise withdrawal was allegedly because of the unresolved leadership conflict inside the PBA, which organizes the D-League.
The Boyet Fernandez-mentored squad is composed mostly of players from San Beda, which claimed the NCAA seniors title last month.
Cignal has been the yardstick of the league last season after sweeping both the Aspirant’s and Foundation Cups.
Its predecessor, NLEX has also won six of the league’s first seven conferences making the franchise the most dominant in the league today with eight championships combined.
Despite the Hawkeyes’ absence, the league will reportedly parade 12 to 14 teams including NCAA squads Perpetual Help, Jose Rizal, St. Benilde, Jose Rizal, Emilio Aguinaldo and NCAA runner-up Lyceum of the Philippine U.
With Cignal out of it, Fernandez said his San Beda players could now focus solely on their studies before taking a much-needed vacation for the holiday season.