Resiliency in Adversity

CEBU, Philippines —  His level of excitement was sky-high playing for the first time with Cebu Gems in the first ever game of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), a community-based league that took Philippine basketball by storm 22 years ago.

He was all pumped up to make an impression after being fielded in by coach Leoncio “Jun” Tan Jr. in Cebu’s First 5 against the Manila Metrostars in the league’s historic match on March 7, 1998 at the Don Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

But with just 30 seconds gone by in the game, Cebuano hotshot Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros got injured.

Hontiveros has a vivid recollection of that fateful sequence of play.

“That excitement on the very first game. I was in a position to grab an offensive rebound and score the first basket but Manila’s Peter Martin got the ball,” recalled Hontiveros. “I tried to swipe it away from him but my hand was hit hard by his elbow. It fractured my right hand.”

The injury was so serious that it sidelined Hontiveros for three months.               

For a moment, he felt his whole world has gone down. His wait to get back into hardcourt action seems like an eternity.

“My thoughts at that time was that I had a dream of making it big someday and provide for my family. I was given an opportunity but it’s not guaranteed that you will be the leader of the team because we have a lot of good and talented players,” shared Hontiveros. “We had Stephen Padilla, Mike Manigo, Leode Garcia, Richard Caliao, Rob Wainwright, and we even had two Fil-Ams in Rob Duat and Chris Mendoza.”

“They were more experienced I would say. It’s the first year of the league and everybody will try to make a name for himself. I had to work really hard before the start of the season leading to the very first game and to get injured was such a huge blow,” added Hontiveros, now a Cebu City councilor.

But instead of wallowing in pain, the Don Bosco and University of Cebu (UC) standout took his frustrations as a challenge and eventually use it as a ladder to success.

After he recovered from the injury, Hontiveros said he was fortunate enough to swiftly earn the trust and confidence of Tonichi Yturri, the Gems’ new coach upon his return.

“I was out for three months and got the trust and confidence of coach Tonichi (Yturri). Thankfully, I was able to recover strong,” said Hontiveros, who went on to claim the All-Star MVP and “Discovery of the Year” awards despite missing in action for a dozen weeks during MBA’s inaugural season.

The 6-foot-1 wingman, best known for his prolific outside shooting, averaged 15 points and four rebounds per game to help guide the Gems to the Southern Conference finals against the Negros Slashers.

They were just a win away from clinching the title with a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven title series but faltered after being swept by the Slashers of coach Jun Noel in their next three games.

Still, it was sparkling year for the 43-year-old Hontiveros given all the trials and tribulations he went through.

Hontiveros, who eventually rose to fame as a PBA great with three championships and 13 All-Star selections under his belt, wants to share his life’s lessons in these hard times - to never give up, to never lose hope, and always keep the faith.

“In a way, that injury made me a better player. It made me work even harder. With your family as inspiration, you will strive hard no matter how tough the situation is,” said Hontiveros.”You see trials as challenges and think of ways to overcome these to reach your goal.”