Cebuano hotshot Dondon Hontiveros and his San Miguel Beer squad are coming to town once again to strut their wares against the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) All-Stars in a gooodwill encounter that is a sequel of his highly-successful “Triple Threat Charity Game” on September 2 at the Cebu Coliseum.
The match will also mark the first hardcourt appearance of Samigue Eman, San Miguel’s top pick in the PBA Draft last week, under the Beermen uniform.
“I expect a very exciting game because we have Samigue Eman, our top pick in the draft recently, and the CESAFI has Slaughter,” said Hontiveros in referring to Gregory Fuentes-Slaughter, the 6-foot-11 Fil-Am goliath of the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.
Save for Danny Seigle and Dorian Peña who are still on vacation in the United States, Hontiveros said all the Beermen crew will see action against the brightest of all the CESAFI stars.
Hontiveros and Eman will play alongside Danny Ildefonso, Olsen Racela, LA Tenorio, Wesley Gonzales, Lordy Tugade, Willy Wilson, Larry Fonacier, Jonas Villanueva, Gabby Espinas, and Enrico Villanueva.
“I’m sure this game will further hone up the skills of the CESAFI stars. Although we’re favored to win, we’re looking forward to a tough challenge knowing that the CESAFI players are very good shooters and are adept in pressing defense,” said Hontiveros.
At the moment, CESAFI commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. said they are still in the process of choosing a coach for the CESAFI All-Stars that will help them form a lineup that is capable of carrying out a competitive fight against the Beermen.
This is the first time that Hontiveros is holding a charity game this year, but his third overall since the former University of Cebu (UC) Aguila started his noble project in 2006. Proceeds of his first event were donated to the landslide victims in Ginsaugon, Leyte, while the second was for the benefit of the less privileged kids of Don Bosco Boys Home.
This year, Hontiveros said they will use whatever income they could generate from the game for scholarship grants to poor, but deserving students.
Hontiveros is very thankful to acting PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios, San Miguel team manager Robert Non, to the CESAFI family, his longtime benefactor and adviser Atty. Baldomero C. Estenzo, Raymund Garcia, and long-time sports patron Jonathan “Atan” L. Guardo, who are all very supportive to his charity works.
“I thanked them all. Without them, this would not have happened,” said a grateful Hontiveros.