When it comes to Cebuano basketball legend Dondon Hontiveros and his son, Isaiah Blanco-Hontiveros, it’s clear that the apple certainly did not fall far from the free.
Not long after leading the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters to two straight finals appearances and one title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) high school basketball tournament, the younger Hontiveros recently committed to join University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) powerhouse De La Salle University.
And as close as the two are, Isaiah disclosed that his father is quite strict when it comes to training him in the sport that has propelled the latter to his lofty standing in the sport and the Cebu sports landscape.
“He’s very supportive pero when in comes to basketball, strikto po. Kung may konting mali, ico-correct pa rin nya kasi gusto nya makita na gawin mo yung tama,” said the younger Hontiveros in his guest appearance on the MVP Sports Foundation Youth Basketball League’s Idol Talk.
This was never more evident than during the semifinals of the 2019 Cesafi season when UC lost the first game against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, a game wherein they were up by double-digits.
The older Hontiveros shared that at their abode, Isaiah was already getting ready to go to sleep but he took the time to speak to his son about the game.
“I was telling him na papagalitan na kita now while there’s still time. Kasi any of these things that I will be saying will not matter if you will lose the next game,” shared Hontiveros of that time when he and Isaiah dissected video of the game to see what adjustments they could make.
The move paid off as the Junior Webmasters won the next game to book a spot in the finals. And although UC lost to Ateneo de Cebu in the finals, that episode was a great example of the dynamic between Hontiveros and his son.
“A relationship between a father and your son, you have to really give them that challenge knowing na they have this potential to get better kahit na may pagka-strict, para he’ll be a better player, student and person,” said Dondon. (JNP)