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Dondon case to be resolved soon - Gems
Cebu Gems team manager Danny Francisco has promised to resolve the DondonHontiveros impasse not later than Monday, a source close to the formerUniversity of Cebu hotshot told The STAR yesterday.
Francisco met Hontiveros and lawyer Baldomero Estenzo in Cebu the other day todiscuss what options are available in case the star guard insists on leavingthe Gems despite two years left in his Metropolitan Basketball Association(MBA) contract.
The options are (1) a buy-out of Hontiveros' contract, (2) assigning thecontract to another team and (3) taking Hontiveros to court for refusing toabide by the terms of an existing contract.
"If legal action is taken against Dondon, both parties will be in a losssituation," said the source. "Dondon has decided to leave the MBA mainlybecause of his studies. He has three semesters to go before finishing hiselectrical engineering course. Last year, he had to drop out because of thefrequent road trips in the MBA. His priority is to get a degree while at thesame time, earn to help out his family."
The source added that Hontiveros hopes to play in the Philippine BasketballAssociation (PBA) this year. "If he plays in the PBA, he'll be able to enrollin a school and continue his studies in Manila because it won't involve toomuch travelling," continued the source.
At least four PBA teams are pursuing Hontiveros. The source declined toidentify which teams are hot on Hontiveros' trail.
Another reason why Hontiveros has decided to leave the Gems is because of acommunication gap. The source said Gems coach Tonichi Yturri embarrassedHontiveros by chasing him out of practice in front of his teammates a few weeksago.
The misunderstanding stemmed from Hontiveros reporting late for the Gems' firstpractice early this year. He was initially informed the practice would start at4 p.m. Then he got a text message at 1:30 p.m. that the practice had been movedto 1 p.m. the same day. So he reported late. Yturri was not at the practicebecause he was still in the US on a scouting trip. The next practice,Hontiveros was ill and his father Arturo showed up at the gym to explain hisabsence. On the third practice, Hontiveros reported but was told to leave "tothink things over."
The source said Yturri was probably misled by media reports alleging thatHontiveros was deliberately making himself scarce because he had received fatoffers to jump to the PBA.
Hontiveros was previously represented by agent Cesar Estrebelo but his parentsand a sister are now managing his affairs. The family is advised by Estenzo whowas the University of Cebu team manager when Hontiveros played for thevarsity.
"We're hoping for a win-win situation," said the source. "Dondon owes a lot tothe Gems. But he wants to move on.Sayang yung bata kung hindi makalaro.He's only 22 and he`s got a bright future ahead of him.Mabait siya,mahiyain. He's appealing for the Gems to understand his situation."
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra draft pick Ernesto Billiones has decided to playout his Blu Detergent contract in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) beforeturning pro. Billiones will be available to play for the national team thisyear. Ginebra is eyeing former Pop Cola reserve Jasper Ocampo to fill the spotreserved for Billiones.
And Shell coach Perry Ronquillo confirmed the acquisition of BrixterEncarnacion from Alaska in a trade for Bryan Gahol. Encarnacion attended hisfirst Shell practice last Wednesday.
BALDOMERO ESTENZO
BARANGAY GINEBRA
BLU DETERGENT
BRYAN GAHOL
CEBU GEMS
DONDON
HONTIVEROS
PRACTICE
SOURCE
UNIVERSITY OF CEBU
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