Hontiveros sees similarities between 2012 Powerade, GlobalPort
GlobalPort Batang Pier and Powerade Tigers (inset).
Dondon Hontiveros admits he is impressed with head coach Pido Jarencio’s lead in GlobalPort as the outspoken mentor managed to bring out the best in the team’s star duo.
“Na-impress ako sa ginawa ni coach Pido [Jarencio] dahil talagang binigyan nya ng role yung mga players at maganda yung pag-lead ng ni Terrence [Romeo] and Stanley [Pringle].”
Knowing what the Batang Pier are capable off, the Aces are preparing the best game plan to counter the fast-paced game that GlobalPort likes to play with Romeo and Pringle steering the ship.
“Much is the same sa amin, lahat ibibigay kahit sandali lang yung playing time,” Hontiveros said. “Magiging takbuhan ito, but the advantage is we have big guys who can score in the inside. Sila kasi more on the outside, penetration, and they’re very good in transition,” he said.
“We know they can explode anytime… Everytime pa nga eh. Ang sa amin, we’ll just make them work and grind it out.”
Like Powerade
He couldn’t help but be reminded of the gritty 2012 Powerade Tigers squad which went to as far as the Finals of that year’s Philippine Cup when talking about GlobalPort.
“Kung ma-recall mo yung nangyari sa Powerade, they have Marcio (Lassiter), JVee (Casio), and Gary (David). Ganun din with this lineup, with Terrence (Romeo), Stanley (Pringle), minsan si Keith (Jensen) and Joseph (Yeo),” he noted.
Buoyed by the stupendous shooting of their fiery backcourt, the Tigers upset a Tim Cone-mentored top seed B-Meg squad, outlasted Rain or Shine in the semis, before falling to the mighty Talk ‘N Text squad in the titular showdown.
One couldn’t help but see the similarities between Powerade and the GlobalPort crew. From the the Romeo-Pringle combo which is slowly emerging as one of the best backcourt tandems in the league and GlobalPort’s performance in the playoffs especially its first semifinals appearance at the expense of Cone and Ginebra.
The similarities, Hontiveros thinks, doesn’t stop there.
“They have the other big guys na nag-compliment. Before sa Powerade, they had Doug (Kramer), Rommel (Adducul), and Sean (Anthony). Ngayon, andyan si Billy (Mamaril), mas beefy na Doug, and (Rico) Maierhofer. Di mo pwedeng sabihin na mahina dahil capable pa rin yung team nila.”
Aside from Casio and Alaska reserve Josh Vanlandingham, current Aces mentor Alex Compton was also part of that Powerade team as a deputy of coach Bo Perasol.
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