By Adrian Stewart Co

Negrense center Reynel Hugnatan is set to make his return to the Meralco Bolts lineup when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) resume its stalled Governors’ Cup matches on February 11.

According to Bolts head coach Norman Black, the Bacolod City-native Hugnatan was in tip-top shape despite being sidelined in Meralco’s first two-games of the season-ending conference.

“Reynel is healthy,” Black said in an interview with PBA Rush. “The import plays 40 minutes and I used Raymond (Almazan) and Cliff (Hodge) to guard the imports in the first two games.”

“I did what I thought would get us the first two wins. I’m sure, Reynel will play in our upcoming games. Definitely, we did not see yet the last of Reynel,” the former PBA Grand Slam head coach added.

The 43-year-old Hugnatan was one of the elder statesman in the league and was even a major contributor on offense for the Bolts during their 2021 PBA Philippine Cup campaign.

Hugnatan, a former Negros Slashers star in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, has earlier said that he wish to win a championship with the Bolts before calling it a career.

“Kahit bago man lang ako mag-retire, makatulong sana muna ako sa Meralco na makakuha ng championship,” Hugnatan said. “Kaya naman ginagawa ko lahat, sa practice, sa disiplina, ma-maintain ko ‘yung level ng laro ko.”

“At least ngayon, nabibigyan pa ako ng kontrata ng team. At least kumikita pa ako,” he said. “Eto ‘yung first love ko eh. Eto ‘yung gustong-gusto ko. Kaya siguro rin ako nagtagal dahil kumbaga hindi ko pinapabayaan sarili ko. Mahal ko trabaho ko.”

“Pinapakita ko rin sa mga mas bata sa akin kung bakit ako nagtagal sa PBA. Parang lagi kong pinapakita sa kanila na ako ang nauuna sa gym, nagsu-shooting, ako lagi ‘yung huling umuuwi,” Hugnatan further said.

The Bolts are currently one of the undefeated teams in the season-ending PBA Governors’ Cup after winning its first two matches against Blackwater Bossing and TNT Tropang Giga./ASC, WDJ