Tweet sparks Hontiveros' vintage game

MANILA, Philippines -- Fifteen years ago, a 20-yeard old Dondon Hontiveros rose to fame in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) with his deadly outside shooting.

Now a 35-year old journeyman in the PBA, Hontiveros played like it was 1998 all over again dropping 22 points, 18 coming off in the payoff period and extra time, to help the Alaska Aces write one of the most epic comebacks in the league. 

A former starter in Tanduay, San Miguel Beer/Petron and Air21, he was reduced to a back-up role to the Aces' starting shooting guard Cyrus Baguio this conference. Hontiveros was just averaging a quiet 5.6 points (the second lowest in his PBA career) coming into this game. 

Hontiveros appeared heading to one of those usual nights in his 13th year in the PBA managing just four points in the first half as the Aces stared at several double digit deficits that swelled to as big as 22 early in the third quarter. 

The veteran leader that he is, he kept on talking to his teammates and preaching that [this game] is a learning experience for them.

It turned out to be more than that. 

"Ang sabi ko sa kanila [mga teammates ko], laro lang tayo. Don't mind the deficit. I-treat natin ito as a learning experience," Hontiveros said in the post-game interview. 

But when he caught fire in the fourth quarter, Hontiveros knew that this game would be more than just a learning experience. It was a test of character for these new breed of Aces, who have gone to a roller-coaster ride since opening the conference with five straight wins.  

With the no.1 spot at stake, Hontiveros came to the Aces' rescue hitting four of his seven three-pointers in the pivotal fourth quarter to force overtime after trailing by 17, 47-64, at the start.

In the extra period, the Cebuano Hotshot dropped two more in a catch-and-shoot, no conscience fashion that triggered a wild pandemonium inside the Big Dome. By the time he left the game [due to fouls] with 19 seconds to go in overtime, Hontiveros and the Aces have already sealed the big reversal with an eight-to-nothing blast. Last night's 89-84 win over Rain or Shine marked the first time that the Aces have won back-to-back games since that sizzling 5-0 start. 

"Nabasa ko kasi kaninang umaga yung tweet ni Fidel [Mangonon III] kaya ako na-inspire," said Hontiveros, who played his best game in Alaska uniform or since returning from an injury. 

Hontiveros was referring to the PBA Stats head's tweet (below) about the shooter's mentality.  

Alaska coach Luigi Trillo likened Hontiveros to soon-to-be-legendary shooter and future NBA Hall of Famer Ray Allen of the Miami Heat.

“Dondon was huge. He’s like our Ray Allen. We won’t go this far if not for guys like Dondon. That’s vintage Dondon,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo during the post-game chatter with the press. 

Hontiveros was just too happy to help the Aces reach another milestone in the post-Tim Cone era despite playing with a battle-scarred pair of 35-year old legs.  

With their ninth win in 12 starts, the Aces now have a golden chance to earn one of the top two seedings for the first time in nine conferences and they will need more vintage performances from the Cebuano Hotshot to go deeper in the playoffs.