SMART CLARK GIGA CITY — Reynel Hugnatan sure hit the biggest shot to help Meralco escape Ginebra in Game Four of their 2020 PBA Philippine Cup semis duel Wednesday, but he wasn’t the only one coming up big in the endgame.
There’s also Raymond Almazan, who made the most important stop down the stretch to ensure that the cold-blooded jumper made by his senior wouldn’t go to waste.
The Barangay were looking to take the lead back with less than eight seconds left to play. Then the 6-foot-8 slotman perfectly timed Stanley Pringle’s lay-up off a hard drive and blocked his shot.
The basketball soon went into Cliff Hodge’s hands. The veteran forward dished it to a streaking Chris Newsome on the other end. He converted the insurance bucket on their way to the 83-80 victory.
That was Almazan’s sole block in the game. Still, he collected 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, along with three rebounds in the 28 minutes and 25 seconds he played.
“That was a huge block by Raymond,” said Coach Norman Black. “He’s really our inside defender, a guy we count on to be the last line of defense around the basket.
“He’s still not 100-percent yet, but he’s getting better.”
That was, indeed, a huge block. Not only did it save Meralco’s season, it also gave the MVP-owned franchise the opportunity to reach the Finals by taking the deciding Game Five on Friday.
“That was just a huge defensive play for us. It gives us a chance to tie the series 2-2 and of course, to possibly win Game Five and move on to the Finals,” said the Grand Slam-winning mentor.
Still, Black doesn’t want to get too ahead of himself.
“Well, I’m sure the players are very, very happy to get a chance to go into Game Five and have a chance to move on to the finals. Of course, it’s going to be a tough task against Ginebra to beat them in Game Five,” he reminded.
“But at the same time, we just have to go back and watch the game, and figure out what’s it going to take to get the job done.”
