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Hontiveros misses doing road rage ahead of return to home-and-away basketball

Dondon Hontiveros said he loves going outside of Cebu during his MBA days. Mike Romero (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

PARAÑAQUE—Everyone knows Dondon Hontiveros as one of the PBA's top Gunners during his prime.

But not too many know that his colorful professional basketball career started with his hometown Cebu Gems in the MBA.

On Sunday night, the six-foot-two guard is set to make a return to home-and-away basketball through the ABL, getting signed by Alab.

Ahead of the start of his 20th season overall and his debut with his third play-for-pay league, Hontiveros shared to Dugout Philippines the things that he missed in his two MBA seasons that he will experience again in the ABL.

"Nakaka-miss yung when you're the visiting team," he said. "It's really hard to win sa homecourt ng kalaban. That's the challenge."

Despite the raucous crowd rallying against him, Hontiveros said he became more inspired to play.

"Knowing na may mga kababayan ka who support you, it gets you going," he said in particular. "You really look forward to those kind of games."

Hontiveros became well known for dropping 45 points for Cebu in Game 5 of the MBA Finals against Manila, the second most number of points scored in a single game and the most in a playoff game in the five seasons of existence of the league from 1998-2002.

However, he felt the challenge the hard way in the succeeding match as the Metrostars limited him to only 14 points even as they blasted the Gems to capture the MBA title that time.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno