Cliff Hodge credits Reynel Hugnatan for guiding Meralco big men in PBA Finals vs San Miguel

Even before Meralco and San Miguel started their PBA Philippine Cup finals series, the Bolts were already well-aware of the fact that it has to bring their best, especially with stopping June Mar Fajardo. 

So far, the Bolts frontcourt has been impressive in at least limiting the reigning seven-time MVP. 

Cliff Hodge, one of the veterans for Meralco, deflected some of the credits to retired PBA bruiser Reynel Hugnatan, who is now part of their coaching staff tasked to guide the big men including him.

"He’s huge. He has battled a lot of the bigs right now and he’s done a good job of playing against a lot of these guys," Hodge told GMA News Online on the heels of their 92-88 Game 5 win on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With the 6-foot-4 Hugnatan around, Hodge alongside other bigs in Raymond Almazan, Brandon Bates, and Norbert Torres have been making life harder for Fajardo. 

Meralco outrebounded San Miguel in all but one game in the series so far as the Bolts cruised to 3-2 lead following a tight 92-88 escape in Game 5 on Friday. 

"Yeah, he’s huge and he’s been a great coach, he has helped these younger guys, even me, Bates, and Raymond to stay focused and follow the game plan."

Hodge also relishes the chance to learn from Hugnatan, who has been around ever since he joined the franchise in 2012 until the latter called it a career last year after suiting up for Meralco from 2011 to 2023. 

From being a teammate to a coach, Hodge is just thankful to have Hugnatan around. 

"Yeah, we played like, maybe, eight years together. It was a transition for him, obviously. We were teammates for a long time and I’m glad that he’s still around because he’s a great basketball player," the 6-foot-4 Hodge added.

And if there's one thing he likes to further develop under the guidance of Hugnatan, Hodge said it's his post moves. 

"I’m trying to learn his post moves. I know his post moves were crazy so if I can learn a few of those and get a little bit offensive-minded then maybe I can help in that department," he said.

"So just that and his IQ on how to play bigger guys because he’s like my size so he had played bigger guys his whole career. I want to pick his brain on how he was able to last so long."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News