After taking a two-week break at the start of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Alaska Aces veteran Dondon Hontiveros returned to action during the team’s 105-89 beating of the Phoenix Fuel Masters Friday night.
Hontiveros logged only 4:23 and missed his lone field goal attempt, while getting a rebound and an assist. His brief stint hardly mattered at first glance, the way the Aces dominated the second half.
But for the veteran, whose contract expires at the end of the season, each minute he’ll log on the hardcourt is important; those minutes might be the last he’ll write down on his lengthy and celebrated basketball diary.
While Hontiveros said he was “emotionally drained” the last time out, the shared the main focus of the sabbatical was also for his body to recover.
“Yun talaga ang gusto mangyari ni coach (Alex Compton), yung physically maka-recover. Kasi after Gilas, wala akong pahinga going to the All-Filipino Cup. Yung break na ‘yun, binigay sa akin para makarecover,” Hontiveros said.
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He added it felt difficult to get a feel of the game again in his first few minutes on the court, and his focus right now is to get back to top form to help contribute to his squad.
“Nararamdaman mo talaga eh,” Hontiveros said when asked if he feels more conscious about a virtual countdown beginning to tick for him. And the break came in handy, giving him enough recovery for what could be his one final push.
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“Yun din ang magandang ginawa ni coach na slowly ka niyang binabalik sa game shape para pag playoffs, I can play heavy minutes.
Binigyan talaga ako ng time to recover. (Ako naman), bigay mo lahat, slowly makakabalik ka sa game na kaya mong makatulong sa team. Obviously, hindi ko pa makikita the next few games pero pag playoffs, yun naman ang importante,” he said.
At the end of the season, Hontiveros’ performance might also be his personal gauge on whether he would continue playing in the immediate future.
“Wala pa, and unfair din naman sa management kung wala ka namang naipakitang magandang performance,” Hontiveros said when asked if there are on-going contract negotiations.
Hontiveros remains open to future offers, but the decision at the end of the season remains up in the air.
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“Siguro good for me if mabibigyan ng opportunity ulit to compete sa All-Filipino title pero it is still up to the management, and ako lang gagawin ko yung part ko, slowly mabuild-up ulit yung game (and condition) and hopefully come the playoffs, mas maganda ipapakita ko, kasi mahirap din yung may breakdown (katawan) mo sa playoffs, yun naman ang importante,” he said.
