Reynel Hugnatan has a storied basketball career. He has been playing professional basketball for like forever, having started out in 1998 as a member of the Negros Slashers in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
Two decades later, the 41-year old is still going strong and a locker room leader of the Meralco Bolts.
Although his speed and athleticism might no longer be the same as when he first entered the league, the the Talisay City-born veteran center relied on wisdom and experience to keep up with (and sometimes even outplay) his much younger counterparts.
Hugnatan has prolonged his career by becoming one of the league's reliable stretch big man for the Bolts. He averaged 6.04 points, 2.52 rebounds, 1.38 assists during the 2018 season.
Not bad for the second oldest in the league after Asi Taulava, right?
Asked how he is able to stay in top shape for this long, Hugnatan credited a disciplined diet that mostly consists of vegetables of any kind.
"More on vegetables ako, salad. Kahit ano, basta gulay, basta green," said the long-haired veteran.
"Nagkakanin din ako, carb, pero morning [lang]. Rice sa morning. After that, more on salad, chicken, isda," he said.
Hugnatan was picked 9th overall by the Coca-Cola Tigers in the 2003 PBA draft. Only two others have active conttracts from that batch and both have already announced their retirement this year: Cyrus Baguio of NLEX and Harvey Carey of TNT.
Asked if he has plans of following soon, Hugnatan said no. Maybe he still thinks he can helped give the Bolts its first ever Championship since entering the league in 2010.
Two decades later, the 41-year old is still going strong and a locker room leader of the Meralco Bolts.
Although his speed and athleticism might no longer be the same as when he first entered the league, the the Talisay City-born veteran center relied on wisdom and experience to keep up with (and sometimes even outplay) his much younger counterparts.
Hugnatan has prolonged his career by becoming one of the league's reliable stretch big man for the Bolts. He averaged 6.04 points, 2.52 rebounds, 1.38 assists during the 2018 season.
Not bad for the second oldest in the league after Asi Taulava, right?
Asked how he is able to stay in top shape for this long, Hugnatan credited a disciplined diet that mostly consists of vegetables of any kind.
"More on vegetables ako, salad. Kahit ano, basta gulay, basta green," said the long-haired veteran.
"Nagkakanin din ako, carb, pero morning [lang]. Rice sa morning. After that, more on salad, chicken, isda," he said.
Hugnatan was picked 9th overall by the Coca-Cola Tigers in the 2003 PBA draft. Only two others have active conttracts from that batch and both have already announced their retirement this year: Cyrus Baguio of NLEX and Harvey Carey of TNT.
Asked if he has plans of following soon, Hugnatan said no. Maybe he still thinks he can helped give the Bolts its first ever Championship since entering the league in 2010.
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