Blackwater, Ildefonso explore options

MANILA, Philippines - Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy said yesterday he will entertain offers to trade veteran Danny Ildefonso but ruled out an outright release on advice by PBA officials to preserve the integrity of the recent dispersal draft where the two-time MVP was picked first by the Elite.

Ildefonso, 37, is in the twilight of a career that started in 1998 and has played on eight PBA title squads with the San Miguel Beer franchise. He averaged 3.1 points in 21 games for Meralco last season, sitting out 15 outings. Ildefonso was Rookie of the Year in 1998 and back-to-back MVP in 2000 and 2001. A spate of injuries put Ildefonso in cold storage for long periods during his career but he recovered to claim the PBA Press Corps’ Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2010-11.

Ildefonso never missed a practice in three weeks with Blackwater until his assumed Meralco contract expired last Aug. 31. Sy, who planned to showcase Ildefonso as the expansion team’s franchise player, tendered a two-year offer when the contract expired. The first year stipulated a monthly salary of P200,000 and the second year, P225,000. Ildefonso rejected the terms.

Sy said Ildefonso’s agent initially asked for a P500,000 monthly salary which is even over the league limit of P420,000. “I was quite surprised by what was being asked,” said Sy. “All I wanted to do was to give Danny a graceful exit and I thought two years would be more than fair. Our offer was based on his present value.”

Sy’s initial reaction to the rejection was to release Ildefonso. But he was advised to hold on to his rights because it would appear that a dispersal draft first pick wiggled out of a league obligation in demanding a higher salary. In an impasse on salary negotiations, the issue is brought up to the PBA commissioner for arbitration. An outright release of a player who rejects a contract offer will set a dangerous precedent that could undermine the bargaining leverage of a team in future negotiations.

“I am agreeable to a trade even for a third or fourth round draft pick, just so it won’t be an outright release for nothing,” said Sy. “So far, there are no takers for Danny although I heard (new Talk ‘N’ Text coach) Jong (Uichico) might come up with a deal since they worked together at San Miguel Beer for many years. If there’s a deal on the table, I don’t see a problem moving Danny for as long as the PBA Commissioner approves it. I just want to abide by the PBA rules and practices.”

Ildefonso said he became unhappy with the turn of events after his assumed Meralco contract expired. When he first showed up for practice, Ildefonso looked forward to the new season with Blackwater. “My role was supposed to provide experience and mentor the big guys like (Bryan) Faundo, (Jason) Ballesteros, (J. P.) Erram and (Frank) Golla,” he said in Filipino. “I didn’t expect to be offered that kind of salary. Imagine, with the 30 percent withholding tax, I would be earning very little. I was also being allocated only two tickets for each game but I have five children. Another issue was driving all the way from our house in Filinvest in Cainta to the practice gym on Araneta Avenue. It was a difficult situation.”

Ildefonso said it may be too late to work out a compromise. “I think their lineup is filled up,” he said. “I got along with the Blackwater veterans like Eddie Laure and Bryan but I wasn’t happy with the ways things turned out. I hope Mr. Sy understands. I know he’s just doing what is best for the team. If we can’t come to terms, maybe the best thing is for me to be released. If I don’t get the salary I think is right for what is expected from me, then I’ll just retire.”

Ildefonso declined to confirm or deny whether there are other teams interested in his services. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve played both for the San Miguel and MVP groups and I thank my bosses for everything they’ve done for me. I have no preferred team. All I know is I can still do my job as a player if I’m given the chance.”

Ildefonso said he would’ve enjoyed playing against coach Manny Pacquiao’s Kia team in the PBA season opener on Oct. 19. “I recently bumped into Rich Alvarez who’s playing for Kia and he told me it’s a relief that I won’t be playing for Blackwater against them in the opener,” he chuckled.

Ildefonso said he’s only after providing for his wife Ren and their five children. His eldest 6-2 Sean, 16, is a junior and another 6-2 son Dave, 14, a freshman, both at Ateneo. “My two sons and my nephew Bryan Andrade who’s 6-1 and 16 years old were all taken in by Ateneo in a package deal,” he said. Ildefonso also has an 11-year-old daughter Sofia, a cancer survivor, and a pair of eight-year-old twins, Samantha and Symone.