Ildefonso willing to guide Al-Hussaini at Meralco

MANILA, Philippines -- Two-time league MVP Danny Ildefonso knows he’s no longer a spring chicken at this point. But he believes he’s still got some gas left on his tank to compete for another season with the Meralco Bolts.

Though basketball fans wished he just retired after seeing his numbers suffer another dip with the Bolts last season, Ildefonso said he can still provide quality minutes for Meralco if given the chance to re-sign with the team.

“Sa practice pa lang uli sa Aug. 17, dun pa lang mag-uusap,” Ildefonso told Philstar.com, just before heading to Ateneo to fetch his son Shaun, who plays for the Blue Eaglets.

The 6-foot-5 Ildefonso, who just played out his 17th PBA season, understands the nature of pro basketball, especially since a new wave of fresh, young talents are set to invade the league in the Annual Rookie Draft on Aug. 23.

“Iyan (rookie draft) naman talaga yung hihintayin bago kausapin yung mga players kagaya ko na may expiring contracts. Marami kaming mage-expire ang contract,” he said.

“Pero kung ako, kaya ko pa maglaro ng isang taon. Mabigyan lang ng pagkakataon.”

Although chances of getting a contract extension seemed to have dimmed with the return of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Ildefonso went as far as saying he’s willing to serve as the former Ateneo slotman’s tutor if needed.

“Maganda yung ma-work out niya (Al-Hussaini) yung laro niya. Eh ako, kung makakatulong sa kanya at sa team, tutulong tayo. Walang problema sa atin yun,” explained the 38-year-old forward out of Urdaneta, Pangasinan.

Ildefonso added that he doesn’t see anything wrong with mentoring the 6-foot-7 Al-Hussaini, the 2011 PBA Rookie of the Year, who has yet to live up to his true potential in the pros.

“Para sakin, yung mabanggit lang yung pangalan mo sa success ng isang tao, walang katulad na yung pakiramdam ko nun, kasi yung pera, mawawala din iyan,” he said.

“Pero yung makatulong ka sa tao sa success niya, malaking bagay na iyun.”

The former National University Bulldog was largely credited for the development of San Miguel slotman June Mar Fajardo’s game, who, after just three years in the PBA, has won back-to-back MVPs.

Fajardo also led the Beermen to two PBA championships this past season after averaging 17.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.