Hontiveros delays retirement, joins Alab for ABL

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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Thursday, October 19, 2017
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MANILA – Dondon Hontiveros delayed his plan to retire from basketball when he signed with Tanduay-Alab Pilipinas for the 2017-2018 ASEAN Basketball League, which starts Nov. 19.

The Cebuano gunner said he did not think twice in accepting the offer from Alab for the chance to play in front of overseas Filipino workers with the league’s home-and-away format.

“It’s an opportunity for me to really be with our kababayans. I’ve been receiving text messages and they are excited for me,” the 40-year-old told a news conference at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City on Tuesday.

Alab will begin its campaign against defending champion Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions – where Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger will play – on Nov. 19 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“I learned na ang mga kababayan natin, they requested for weekend games para mapanuod nila kami,” said Hontiveros.

“Basketball has been my life,” he added. “I know I can help the team in whatever way.”

Aside from Hontiveros, also in the squad are fellow former PBA players Rico Maierhofer, Joshua Urbiztondo, John Murphy Raymundo, Robbie Celiz, and Chris Sumalinog, and former collegiate standout Bobby Ray Parks Jr.

Serving as imports for the Jimmy Alapag-mentored squad are Ivan Johnson and Reggie Okosa, who both had their stints before in the Philippines with TNT KaTropa and Barako Bull, respectively.

“There are a lot of great teams. We are definitely preparing and doing our best to compete for the championship,” said Alapag. “So far, I am happy with the progress of the team.”

“It’s still a long way to go. Right now, our focus is the preparation kasi we are roughly four to five weeks away from the opener, so we need to work on some of our plays,” added the former PBA Most Valuable Player./PN
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