Sitting on the bench as big men coaches of Meralco, former player Reynel Hugnatan and ex-head coach Norman Black proved instrumental in dethroning the June Mar Fajardo-led San Miguel in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
Reynel Hugnatan and Norman Black finally captured a championship for Meralco in the PBA.
Now serving as big man coaches, both could not help but share the elation of their charges after the Bolts lorded over the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the expense of no less than mighty San Miguel last June 16.
“Siyempre, ganoon pa rin kasaya kasi part pa rin ako ng team, ng coaching staff. Same pa rin ('yung saya),” Hugnatan said shortly after Meralco's successful conquest of the Beermen in Game 6 of the Finals, 80-78, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Black shared the same sentiment, making special mention of Meralco lifers Cliff Hodge, Anjo Caram and Chris Newsome, as well as Hugnatan.
“Really happy for the players, especially those who have been here for a long time,” said Black.
“Happy for the management, the bosses, the employees who stuck by us all these years. It’s just a great feeling.”
Hugnatan suited up for the Bolts for 12 years where he experienced four finals heartbreaks. Meralco reached the championship stage in the Governors Cup four times all against Ginebra and lost each time.
After retiring in May last year, Hugnatan was finally able to break through this time. Though he was not on the court making buckets and giving screens, the 6-foot-4 player-turned-coach is proud of the Newsome-led squad for getting the job done.
“Sobrang proud ako sa mga players namin kasi alam ko kung gaano nila pinaghirapan 'to. Alam ko kung paano nila pinaghirapan sa ensayo, paano sila nag-sacrifice,” said Hugnatan.
Meralco’s bigs led by Hodge, Raymond Almazan and Brandon Bates were able to put the lessons they learned from Hugnatan and Black into practice as they pulled out all the stops to slow down towering seven-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo en route to the victory.
It was all about living up to Meralco's defensive character.
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“I think everybody was onboard as far as understanding how we would have to play defense. We’ve always been a good defensive team, and we've gotten better this year,” Black said.
“We wanted to handle June Mar a certain way. We know we can’t stop him. But we want to at least slow him down.”
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Hugnatan could not help but be proud of his wards.
“Sobrang proud. Sila 'yun, eh. Kumbaga kami, nag-a-advise lang. Lahat ng coaching staff sobrang saya kasi lahat ng mga sinasabi namin o nila coach Nenad (Vucinic), coach Luigi (Trillo), ginagawa nila ang mga game plan namin," said Hugnatan.