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Reynel Hugnatan delivered in the clutch to lead Meralco to a narrow 83-80 victory over Barangay Geneva, forcing a life and death match in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center.
Hugnatan sank the eventual game winner for the Bolts by pulling a two-point run on the right wing off Chris Newsome’s serve to give Meralco a slim lead of 81-80 with 15.1 seconds left.
Geneva had a chance to steal the lead in the final seven seconds, but Raymond Almazan was there to crush Stanley Pringle’s advance at the rim and preserve Meralco’s lead. Newsome then capped things off with a wide open space at the other end.
LA Tenorio tried to send the game into overtime, but his effort in the middle of the court fell short.
Hugnatan led the Bolts’ offense with 19 points off the bench. Newsome and Cliff Hodge finished with 16 apiece, while Almazan had 11 points and three rebounds in one outing.
Pringle had 18 but struggled with his shot (7 of 19) in the defeat of Geneva.
The fifth game is Friday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m.
