Former 2-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso officially retires

MANILA, Philippines -- Former two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso is retiring for good. 

The 38-year old Ildefonso has decided to call it quits after Meralco Bolts bared their plan to rebuild their frontline with younger players.

"Nag-usap na kami ni coach Norman (Black) at sinabi nga niya na plano na nilang mag-rebuild. Mabuti na rin at nalaman ko 'yung plano nila from him since balak ko na rin talagang mag-retire. Hinintay ko lang muna 'yung sasabihin niya baka kasi kako may plano pa sila para sa akin," Ildefonso told Philstar.com on Sunday night. 

Meralco has welcomed back Rabeh Al-Hussaini to its lineup making Ildefonso dispensable. 

"Sobra-sobra na 'yung 17 seasons. Masaya ako sa naging career ko and it's time to focus naman sa family ko lalo na sa mga anak ko," said Ildefonso, whose sons Shaun and Sean Dave currently play for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets. 

Ildefonso will walk away from the game as one of the greatest big men to ever step into the PBA. He was the 1998 Rookie of the Year and has collected eight PBA championships in 15 seasons with the San Miguel franchise. The former NU Bulldog was named the Most Valuable Player in 2000 and 2001 seasons and became an eight-time All Star. He spent his last two seasons with the Bolts after he was not renewed by the Beermen in 2013. 

Ildefonso, a native of Urdaneta, Pangasinan, will leave the PBA with career averages of 10.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists and is widely credited for the rapid development of reigning back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo. 

After retirement, Ildefonso said an option is to go back to NU as a big man coach but he has yet to make up his mind as he wants to personally oversee the development of his sons. Since the PBA season ended, he routinely drives his sons to Ateneo for their practices and trains them during their free time.