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| After eight years, Dondon Hontiveros is part of an active professional basketball team roster again. LA Arcin (file photo) |
MANILA--For the first time in eight years, PBA legend Dondon Hontiveros will play professional basketball again as he will suit up for Cebu in the upcoming MPBL season.
The six-foot-two winger, known for being a "deadshot" since he turned pro in 1998 via the MBA, will join the Greats' active roster for the MPBL's eighth foray starting on April 10.
Hontiveros last played for Alab Pilipinas during the 2017-2018 ABL season before initially calling it a career at age 41.
Hontiveros, a cousin of Senator Risa, tried his luck in politics right after his first basketball retirement, eventually becoming a councilor and vice mayor in Cebu City.
After losing in last year's elections, Dondon joined fellow PBA legend Junthy Valenzuela's coaching staff at Cebu during its massive overhaul last June and helped the team sneak its way into the postseason.
Talks about rescinding his retirement floated as early as last July, but Hontiveros eventually stayed full-time as an assistant coach.
This time, as revealed on Friday night, the "un-retirement" finally happened, although it is still unknown if he will be a full-time player or take a dual role as playing assistant coach.
For sure, though, Hontiveros, who will turn 49 this June 1, will team up with his son Ice this year, which, while an uncommon feat in professional basketball, is not the first time in the MPBL, as Marlou and Matthew Aquino did the trick in the 2019-2020 season with Bacoor City.
Another former PBA champion, Brian Heruela, was revealed to have signed with the Greats too, while Andrey Armenion, Ron Dennison, Simon Camacho, Eman Calo, Dhon Reverente, Wowie Escosio, Gab Dagangon, and Kint Ariar also joined the team.
Staying on for another year are Ice Hontiveros, PSA Awards Night Humanitarian Award recipient JR Quinahan, Jun Manzo, Paul Desiderio, Brylle Meca, Mark Meneses, and Alvin Baetiong.
