Meralco outlasts Barako Bull in double OT

Norman Black won in his first game as the new head coach of the Meralco Bolts Wednesday night. MARK GIONGCO

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco survived a pesky Barako Bull side, 112-108, in double overtime in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Veteran big man Reynel Hugnatan posted a career-high 28 points on 10/10 shooting at the free throw line, including the insurance freebies with 4.1 seconds left.

“That was a well-earned victory by us today. We really had to work hard to get the win,” said Meralco head coach Norman Black in his debut with his new team. “It’s a good start for us.”

Hugnatan, whose previous best was 24 points when he was still with Alaska back in 2005, also had a good shooting night from the field going 9-of-15 and had seven rebounds to boot.

Barako Bull’s Chico Lanete forced another extension on a drive with 0.1 tenths of a second left.

Gary David made two free throws with 1:36 remaining in regulation but had the ball taken away from him by Denok Miranda in the waning seconds as the game went into overtime tied with the score tied at 90.

The Energy led by as much as 15, 43-28, in the second quarter before the Bolts took the lead, 79-76, on a four-point play by John Wilson early in the fourth quarter.

Lanete led Barako Bull, which couldn’t give Koy Banal a win in his first game as head coach, with 21 points. JC Intal added 20.