Ageless Hugnatan eyes piece of history

CEBU, Philippines —  Veteran center/forward Reynel Hugnatan of the Meralco Bolts is likely to make history in the upcoming PBA Awards Night, which will be held virtually on January 17.

The Bacolod City-native Hugnatan, now 42, could etch his name in stone as the oldest ever to win the Most Improved Player honors if he edges five other contenders in the balloting for the special award.

The balloting started last Tuesday and will end on Monday, January 11.

Hugnatan, who was Coca-Cola’s No.9 pick overall in the 2003 Draft, was highly considered for the accolade owing to his stellar performance in Meralco’s semifinal finish during the PBA Philippine Cup bubble play in Clark, Pampanga. 

The three-time champion and six-time All-Star averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.33 assists in his 17th PBA season that was reduced to a one-conference tourney because of the global pandemic.

Hugnatan’s name rings a bell to the Cebuanos because while playing for the Negros Slashers, he was one of the main villains in the Cebu Gems’ quest for Southern Conference glory in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) two decades ago.

Standing in Hugnatan’s way for the MIP plum are Prince Caperal of the Barangay Ginebra Kings, Justin Chua and Jason Perkins of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, Javee Mocon of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painyers, and Raul Soyud of the NLEX Road Warriors.

According to PBA.ph, Dante Gonzalgo and KG Canaleta, both at 31 years old, were the oldest to lift the MIP trophies since the league first handed the award in 1983 to Terry Saldana of Toyota Super Corollas. Gonzalgo was the MIP in 1989 while playing for Anejo Rum, while Canaleta grabbed it in 2013 with Air21 Express.