SMB keeps team intact for 2004

San Miguel Beer is keeping its team intact and only looking forward to the return of ace forward Danny Seigle to become competitive again and, hopefully, end a two-year title drought in the PBA.

San Miguel coach Jong Uichico told The STAR yesterday that they’re working out a trade deal with Shell but it involves only minor players who could be part of their reserve crew.

In fact, Uichico said they’ve offered contract-extension deals to all their players who became free agents last Dec. 31.

"We intend to keep everybody dahil wala naman kaming inaasahan from the draft as we pick No. 7. We’re just hoping Danny S finally returns and hopefully we become competitive again," said Uichico.

The San Miguel mentor said Seigle is now doing court drills. The 6-foot-8 deadly wingman is scheduled for a checkup tomorrow and should be back in the country before Jan. 12 if finally given a clean bill of health.

Seigle has never played a game since he suffered a torn Achilles ligament in an exhibition game by the Busan-bound RP team in 2002. He missed the entire 2002 All-Filipino and the whole 2003 campaign.

San Miguel players given contract-extension offers were Danny Ildefonso, Boybits Victoria, Bryan Gahol, Joey Mente, Arnold Gamboa and Anton Villoria.

Ildefonso’s new contract is practically a done deal, except the period of the pact.

"He can no longer ask for more dahil maximum na ang sweldo niya. Ang alam ko ang inaayos na lang eh kung two or three years ang kontrata," said Uichico.

Ildefonso can still get P500,000 a month this year. However, he’ll have to settle for a monthly take of P350,000 next year as the new salary cap rules take effect on everybody.

Should Ildefonso opt for a two-year pact, he would get a P10.2-million deal.

Meanwhile, Talk n Text team manager Frankie Lim said he’ll meet with Willie Miller’s agent Molet Pineda today to close their deal for the 2002 MVP winner. Miller is expected to get P12.6 million in three years. — Nelson Beltran