Five retired players who look like they can still cut it in PBA

Five retired players who look like they can still cut it in PBA

IT’S said that athletes are the only people who suffer two deaths in their lifetime: once upon retirement, and again in their last breath.

That may be the reason some sports stars lose themselves post careers. Finally free from the regimen that made them great as athletes, they naturally indulge on all the excesses they wouldn’t dare touch in their prime.

But there are also those who live by the discipline and the self-control the rest of their lives, maintaining the same lifestyle in retirement.

Here’s how some of them look.

dondon hontiveros

PHOTO: Dondon Hontiveros IG

Dondon Hontiveros, 46

Just to show how fit this guy is: the Cebuano Hotshot’s playing weight during his time in the PBA was around 182 to 185 lbs., except for his late Gilas Pilipinas call-up when he bulked up to prepare for his foray into international basketball.

At age 46, Dondon swears he still tips the scales at 185 lbs., thanks to a lifestyle that includes intermittent fasting, aqua training that makes up his cardio workout thrice a week, and pick-up games during lunch breaks at Cebu capitol.

LOOK:

Seven years since he retired from the PBA, Konsi Dondon is still very in demand in leagues down South – and can still put much younger players to shame.

reynel hugnatan

PHOTO: Reynel Hugnatan IG

Reynel Hugnatan, 45

One of the longest-staying players in the PBA looks like he can go a few more rounds in case the Meralco Bolts need their assistant coach to be an enforcer on the floor. Papa Rey has always been among the most disciplined players in the pro league – the reason he played into his forties and in his late years was the oldest active player.

READ: Hugnatan is playoff fit inside PBA bubble

Well, Papa Rey isn’t far off that fitness level since he retired a season ago, staying with his tough training regimen as he slipped into a deputy coach role with the Bolts. Now all that work comes in handy as news filtered out that he has been called up to play for the San Juan Knights in the MPBL – at age 45.

jimmy alapag

PHOTO: Jimmy Alapag IG

Jimmy Aapag, 46

Jimmy is charting a new path as one of the few Filipinos to land coaching jobs in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean he has stayed away from playing. Occasionally, you can view reels of Alapag on social media hitting those threes in the Sacramento Kings’ practice facility with the same consistency as his Gilas and PBA heyday.

“Yes, I’d like to think I’m in pretty good shape at 46,” the former Gilas captain tells SPIN.ph laughing.

Eight years since he retired from the PBA, Alapag says he makes it a point to work out regularly. “I don’t play as much anymore because things are so busy during the season,” says the former PBA MVP turned Kings assistant coach, “but our staff does get together every now and then to play in our practice facility.” That would be a game worth watching.

pj simon magnolia pba

PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

PJ Simon, 43

Peter June Simon retired from the PBA three years ago, but you can’t tell with the way he looks nowadays. No sign of even the slighest baby fat in his 43-year old body. The former Purefoods star also looked good in a number of exhibitions games he has played. No wonder rumors of a possible comeback in the MPBL pop up every now and then.

pj simon cardona quinahan hontiveros cyrus baguio

Danny Ildefonso Converge PBA Meralco

PHOTO: Marlo Cueto

Danny Ildefonso, 47

Ildefonso’s batchmates may be wrestling with midlife crisis by now, but not so for the two-time MVP. Lakay doesn’t only look good enough to make a PBA comeback; he did make a brief cameo with Converge in last year’s Governors’ Cup at the age of 46. A year later, the former San Miguel star looked better than he did when retired in 2015 with Meralco. And that’s a testament to a disciplined lifestyle that he lived and eventually passed on to basketball-playins sons Dave and Shaun.