The list of the PBA’s elder statesmen has grown again.
Meralco Bolts power forward Reynel Hugnatan just turned 40 years old this Saturday, November 3, and he celebrated by suiting up in the Orangemen’s match versus the heavily-favored San Miguel Beermen.
He even managed to gift something special to his teammates. Hugnatan produced 19 points, six rebounds, and six assists in over 30 minutes to help the Bolts wallop the Beermen by 30 points, 111-81.
“He’s like a youngster like he was just coming out from the MBA,” quipped Meralco head coach Norman Black.
“Birthday ko nga so yun maganda. Of course, credit to my teammates, parang gift nila sa’kin ‘to,” said Hugnatan, who played for the Negros Slashers in the MBA.
“Ako I try my best to be healthy lang para makalaro pang mahaba.”
He may have just turned 40, but Hugnatan doesn’t look and play his age. For the ninth overall pick of the Coca-Cola Tigers in the 2003 PBA Rookie Draft, what brings such wonders is his veggie-centered diet.
“Sa pagkain. Talagang may ano ako sa pagkain. More on vegetables ako and salad. Maganda naman yung resulta … Kahit ano basta gulay,” he said.
Hugnatan is now in his 15th year in the league, and even if he has just turned 40 years old, there seems to be no stopping him at this point of his career – hanging up his basketball sneakers for good has yet to cross his mind.
“Like I said I try my best na maging healthy lang. At least kung kaya pa, kung yung teams gusto pa nila ako, ready ako.”
