Who would have expected that Reynel Hugnatan would be the most consistent player in the league during the semi-final matches. He has always been known for his mid-range game and excellent footwork at the post when he was young, but after 13-years he is turning the wheels of time.
In Game Three of Meralco’s PBA Governors Cup best-of-five semifinal series against top seed Talk 'N Text Katropa, the 6-foot-4 veteran forward unveiled a new trick in his sleeves and it comes in the form of his deadly shooting from the three-point zone.
The ninth overall pick in the 2003 PBA Draft went 5-of-6 from the arc, including two crucial shots from the corner during a dizzying 15-6 run to lead the Bolts to a stunning 119-113 win against the Katropa on Saturday.
It was the second straight win for Meralco in three days as the Bolts grabbed a surprise 2-1 series lead, leaving TNT on the brink of elimination.
Meralco finished TNT last 3 October behind Cliff Hodge career high 32 points to win Game Four, 94-88, to book its first-ever finals trip in franchise history. But it was the consistency of Hugnatan that was most apparent in the series.
The 37-year-old from Bacolod averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the team's back-to-back wins in the semifinals to earn the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of 26 September to 2 October.
"He’s (Hugnatan) actually a pretty good three-point shooter, but I didn't know that till I started putting the big men through some three-point shooting drills and he'll end up no. 1 everyday," Black said of his evergreen power forward.
"But he was given the green light to shoot when he's open. The only thing I asked him is that he takes the three-point shot from the top of the key, but he made a lot from the side (in Game Three)," he added.
Hugnatan, a 13-year PBA veteran beat Meralco teammate and rookie wingman Chris Newsome, San Miguel Beer gunner Marcio Lassiter and Barangay Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar for the weekly citation.
In Game Three of Meralco’s PBA Governors Cup best-of-five semifinal series against top seed Talk 'N Text Katropa, the 6-foot-4 veteran forward unveiled a new trick in his sleeves and it comes in the form of his deadly shooting from the three-point zone.
The ninth overall pick in the 2003 PBA Draft went 5-of-6 from the arc, including two crucial shots from the corner during a dizzying 15-6 run to lead the Bolts to a stunning 119-113 win against the Katropa on Saturday.
It was the second straight win for Meralco in three days as the Bolts grabbed a surprise 2-1 series lead, leaving TNT on the brink of elimination.
Meralco finished TNT last 3 October behind Cliff Hodge career high 32 points to win Game Four, 94-88, to book its first-ever finals trip in franchise history. But it was the consistency of Hugnatan that was most apparent in the series.
The 37-year-old from Bacolod averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the team's back-to-back wins in the semifinals to earn the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of 26 September to 2 October.
"He’s (Hugnatan) actually a pretty good three-point shooter, but I didn't know that till I started putting the big men through some three-point shooting drills and he'll end up no. 1 everyday," Black said of his evergreen power forward.
"But he was given the green light to shoot when he's open. The only thing I asked him is that he takes the three-point shot from the top of the key, but he made a lot from the side (in Game Three)," he added.
Hugnatan, a 13-year PBA veteran beat Meralco teammate and rookie wingman Chris Newsome, San Miguel Beer gunner Marcio Lassiter and Barangay Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar for the weekly citation.
No comments:
Post a Comment