Tuesday, October 31, 2006 Hontiveros gives Cesafi P20T from charity event By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Correspondent
BASKETBALL hotshot Dondon Hontiveros turned over P20,000 to the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) yesterday, signifying his heartfelt gratitude to the league that has primed him up for the big leagues.
Hontiveros handed the check to Cesafi president Oscar Tuazon, commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy and official Baldomero Estenzo yesterday in Tuazon's office at the Cebu Doctors’ College.
Hontiveros who plays for San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association, organized a charity event last September—Triple Treat—where SMB Beerman took on multi-titled M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala at the Cebu Coliseum. The proceeds went to the beneficiaries, which included Cesafi.
Early beginnings
"Dondon went back to his early beginnings and this is his way of returning the favor and to give it to those who are aspiring to make it big like him," Tiukinhoy said.
Hontiveros is a Cesafi success story, as he was considered a big star back in his days when the Cesafi was still the Cebu Amateur Athletics Association.
He played for Don Bosco Technological Center in high school and his star shone even more in college, when he played with University of Cebu. He gained more popularity in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association where he played for the Cebu Gems, before going to the PBA.
Tiukinhoy said Hontiveros is donating the money not for Cesafi's general fund but for specific purposes.
"One thing that he wanted was to use it as incentives for Cesafi players who will excel in academics," Tiunkinhoy said.
Tiukinhoy said Hontiveros wanted the players to develop not only in the sport but in academics, as well to prepare them for the future.
First recipient
Tiukinhoy said that when everything's settled, former UC skipper Kenneth Kern Sesante could be the first recipient after placing second in the customs board exams held recently.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros is planning to make the goodwill event an annual affair and make Cesafi the sole beneficiary. Hontiveros is also supporting Don Bosco Boys Home as his principal beneficiary.
Hontiveros has pledged to help the schools get discounts in basketball apparel for their varsity teams. He will be negotiating with different brands so that schools could buy shoes of good quality at affordable prices.
