PBA scribes’ pick: Dondon Hontiveros

01/13/2009

The opposing teams know San Miguel Beer’s Dondon Hontiveros is one potent all-around weapon. They also realize that knowing is one thing, doing something about it is an entirely different matter.

Especially when Hontiveros is on fire.

And he was undoubtedly in a zone when it mattered most, keeping the Beermen on track for a cherished PBA Philippine Cup goal and in the process earning for himself the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week honors for the period Jan. 5 to 11.

“He’s the main reason we’re through to the semifinals,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen, referring to the 6-foot-2 guard who led the team past Barangay Ginebra in their best-of-three quarterfinals series that went the full route.

In a dazzling display of firepower, the 31-year-old Cebuano hotshot averaged 28 points, including 34 in a 98-93 win last Sunday that enabled the Beermen to wrap up the series and advance to the semis against early qualifier Talk ‘N Text.

The quarterfinals was as good a time as any for Hontiveros to continue ratcheting up his averages, which started with 13.6 ppg in the 18-game eliminations and went up to 16.5 in the wildcard.

Hontiveros maintains it was just a matter of living up to the trust by his teammates.

“S’werte lang ako pumapasok ang tira ko,” he said in his usual unassuming manner. “The rest of the guys were just looking for me and pumapasok din ‘yung tira ko with the thought. ‘Just be confident.’”

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006