Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup ambassador Dondon Hontiveros is hoping that the players realize the opportunity before them and take full advantage of it rather than waste it.
Hontiveros, who is known as the ‘Cebuano Hotshot’, shared his thoughts on the controversy that rocked the upstart professional league — the game involving the Siquijor Mystics and the ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu City Heroes.
The two teams engaged in a farcical game last Wednesday that saw players from both teams blow wide-open layups and miss free-throws in comical fashion.
The game was stopped after the second period and the next day, league organizers announced the permanent ban of the Mystics. Players and coaches from Lapu-Lapu were also slapped with suspensions and fines.
“I’m with you guys sa nainis sa situation,” said Hontiveros, who is in his first term as a councilor of Cebu City.
“This is not what we envisioned in helping the people sa VisMin Cup.”
Hontiveros was initially asked to become commissioner of the south’s very first professional basketball league but he begged off, owing to his responsibilities to Cebu City as councilor and Phoenix Super LPG as a consultant.
He said the league was made to provide jobs to anyone involved in basketball—from players, coaches, ballboys, referees—as well as give the spotlight to promising players who aren’t known yet to the rest of the country.
“The main purpose of this event is to give players jobs and give unknown players a break,” shared Hontiveros.
“I hope this would serve as a lesson and a warning that they won’t waste this opportunity that was given to them.