Ildefonso on PBA's 40 greatest players: Why no DS, Olsen, Nelson?
Danny Ildefonso, a two-time Most Valuable Player awardee in the PBA, will be one of the 15 players who will be included in the list of the league's 40 greatest.
A long-time player for the San Miguel Beermen, the current member of the Meralco Bolts will be joined by fellow MVP winners James Yap, Willie Miller, Asi Taulava, Erik Menk, Kelly Williams, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa, and Arwind Santos.
Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo, Chito Loyzaga, and Marlou Aquino complete the 15 who will join the 25 others originally named back in 2000 as the PBA's 25 greatest.
“Isang malaking karangalan sa akin yan. Bibihira lang yan, 40 lang sa dinami-dami ng player na dumaan sa liga,” Ildefonso said after the Bolts defeated the KIA Sorento Wednesday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Ildefonso, however, was not completely happy with the list as he was not joined by former San Miguel Beer teammates Olsen Racela, Danny Seigle, and Nelson Asaytono.
“Parang may mali,” Ildefonso said. “Kung titignan mo talaga dapat kasama si Nelson, si DS, at si Olsen. Hindi naman ako against doon sa mga ibang nasama pero ang babata na nila e.”
“Pupunta pa naman sila sa 50. Yung mga batang nakuha, sobrang laki ng chance na mapunta sa 50 pero yung mga matandang hindi nakuha mahihirapan na kasi wala na sila sa 25, wala pa sila sa 40,” he explained.
“Kahit siguro sila Ping at Jayson okay lang sa kanila na sina Olsen, DS, at Nelson muna yung masama sa 40 kasi sure naman sila sa 50.”
Ildefonso added that current Ginebra head coach Jeffrey Cariaso should have also made the list.
“Ang daming naitulong sa PBA nung apat,” Ildefonso added. “Nung 90s pati nung early 2000s kami naman talaga yung sama-sama diyan. Dapat binigay muna sa mga mas matandang players. Masaya ako na makakasama ako sa 40 pero may kasamang lungkot rin na di ko sila kasama.”
