Hontiveros: PBA All-Filipino ring to cap checkered career

Dondon Hontiveros seems to have seen it all in his lengthy basketball career - three-time PBA champion, 12 All-Star appearances, one of the greatest shooters of all time, many-time member of the national team.

He put the icing on the cake with a pair of silver medals in the William Jones Cup and in the FIBA Asia Championship in September, making the most of his last international tour of duty for Gilas Pilipinas.

The only thing missing is an All-Filipino championship ring. The 38-year-old Cebuano hotshot has never won one in his 16-year professional career.

But with his team, Alaska, now in the finals of the Smart-Bro Philippine Cup the Cebuano Hotshot gets one more chance to get the shiny red cherry before he hangs up his jersey for good.

"Kung makuha namin 'to, ready to retire na ako," he said. " Sobrang special talaga, ito naman 'yung pinakamahirap e, 'yung All-Filipino."

The 6’2 shooting guard nearly got his wish last season when the Aces took San Miguel Beer all the way to Game Seven, but the Uytengsu franchise fell one possession short of capturing what would have been its parting gift to their aging veterans.

After two heartbreaking bridesmaid finishes the past season, Alaska came back with a purpose as they clawed their way to earn the top seed ranking at the end of the elimination round and a dominant 4-1 shut down of the resurgent GlobalPort in the semi-finals.

"Di naman nakalimutan 'yung nangyari sa amin nung two finals last year," Hontiveros said. "We played with resolve the past two games, 'yung decision talaga of really doing kung ano 'yung dapat naming gawin."

Now, the Aces are only waiting for the winner of the other semis duel between San Miguel and Rain or Shine to determine the final pairing for the most coveted championship trophy in the Philippine Basketball Association.

For Hontiveros, he could not ask for a better ending.

"For me, it would be really special if I’ll win it this time," Hontiveros said. "Excited lang ako. Pag makuha ko 'to, i-ti-treat ko kayong lahat." —APG/GMA News