From playing pro hoops to paying it forward
AFTER 19 years of showcasing his talent and passion in the hard court, “Cebuano Hotshot” Dondon Hontiveros has played his final game in the professional league and announced his retirement at 40.
A 13-time PBA All-Star player with a career total of 7,598 points, Hontiveros’ love for the sport runs deep and started early in his childhood.
“My father would always buy basketball rings and build basketball posts in our home. Since then, I became a PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) fan. I would always read the stories of PBA players in sports magazines,” he shared.
Dondon eventually grew up to be a varsity high school basketball player for Don Bosco Technology Center and continued playing for the University of Cebu in college. He was a regular school athlete, until someone took notice and offered him the opportunity of a lifetime.
“During the Philippine National Games in Cebu, Mr. Jean Henri Lhuillier, the owner of Cebu Gems, was there watching. Fortunately, I played a good game that day and I think that was the turning point when they decided to finally sign me for Cebu Gems,” he said.
Don don was one of the pioneer players of Cebu Gems, a Cebuana Lhuillier sponsored team formed to represent Cebu and compete in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) in 1998.
“In Grade 6, we were told to write down what we wanted to be by the year 2000. I wrote that I would be a PBA player, and it came true. Towards the end of 1999, I was still signed under the Cebu Gems when the opportunity to play in the PBA came. I talked to my mentors, teammates, and to Sir Jean Henri about my plans,” he said.
“I really owe a lot to Sir Jean Henri and Cebuana Lhuillier for giving me the opportunity to play in the MBA and for allowing me to cut my contract short so I could play in the PBA,” he added.
Mr. Hontiveros had an impressive basketball career in the MBA and PBA, considering the recognitions he has garnered: MBA All-Star MVP award, MBA Discovery of the Year award, a member of the Philippine National Men’s Basketball team and the PBA All-Star, PBA Sportsmanship award, PBA Mythical Second Team award, PBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout champion, and three-time PBA champion.
So after playing for two years under Tanduay Rhum Masters, ten years for San Miguel Beermen, and five years under Alaska Aces, what’s next for Hontiveros?
The PBA veteran refuses to completely bid goodbye to the sport and now plans to focus on honing the skills of young players through summer weekend basketball camps he has launched with the sponsorship of Cebuana Lhuillier. Since August 2015, the project has successfully organized camps in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Ormoc City.
“I want to encourage the youth to go into sports because it teaches values and discipline that would help them become better persons. As for me, basketball has really helped develop my character so if there’s a chance, I hope young Filipinos would try to go into sports, too,” he said.
Just like the man who saw a great potential in him, invested in his talent, and supported his career, Mr. Hontiveros now pays it forward by providing opportunities to young players to achieve the same basketball dream he had when he was just a small town boy.