Hontiveros went back to the start of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Which edition of the Philippine men's national basketball team would be considered the best ever?
It's a question that would surely yield various answers, with plenty of explanations and caveats to boot.
Dondon Hontiveros, the sharpshooter who has worn the Pilipinas jersey since 2007, was placed in the hot seat by fellow former national team member Marc Pingris during a PBA Motoclub vlog in New Zealand.
For the Cebuano Hotshot, the beginning was the strongest—2007.
Following the suspension of the Philippines, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) was created to oversee national basketball as a federation. A partnership with the San Miguel Corporation was formed for the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship.
That 2007 squad had several stars in the roster to join Hontiveros—Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa, Danny Seigle, Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams, Gabe Norwood, Jayjay Helterbrand, Eric Menk, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo, and Renren Ritualo.
This team, helmed by Chot Reyes, bowed to a Rajko Toroman-led Iran and Jordan but snagged a 79-74 victory against China in Group A.
The classification had the Philippines sweep Syria, Kuwait, and India in Group G, only to meet China again for ninth place. The Filipinos won, 78-76.
The national team also picked up the bronze during the 2007 edition of the William Jones Cup. Jordan won gold while Lebanon took silver.
"Yung time na 'yun nagda-dunk si Mark Caguioa, 'di nila alam," Hontiveros jokingly said in the vlog.
Pingris, Helterbrand, and the rest of the former PBA players in the New Zealand trip immediately proceeded to rib Caguioa on how he liked to work on one particular aspect of his body--his shoulders.
Check out the vlog here.
(CF)