Negrense Reynel Hugnatan rose to the occasion last night, helping the Alaska Aces to a 99-96 victory over Talk N' Text in Game 7 of the PBA Fiesta Conference finals at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The 6-foot-4 Hugnatan, who hails from Talisay City, Negros Occidental, nailed an important free throw with a second left to peg the final score, after grabbing the rebound of Talk N' Text guard Donbel Belano's missed triple.

Hugnatan had 16 points to go with his nine caroms in an impressive performance that sparked Aces' resurgence to the pinnacle of Philippine basketball. Hugnatan earlier missed two charities with 35 seconds left.

It was a fitting end to an impressive season for Hugnatan, who also won his first title as a PBA player, after spending the early years of his career playing for the Negros Slashers in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. Hugnatan's teammate John Ferriols, another former Negros Slasher, also snared his first championship ring as a PBA player.*

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