ANTIPOLO – It was a difficult decision Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine management had to make in letting go of guard Shaun Ildefonso.
Guiao related the dilemma the Elasto Painters faced when they let go of the 28-year-old son of two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso especially since he’s been very much a part of the Rain or Shine family.
READ Shaun Ildefonso joins brother Dave for Abra's MPBL title defense
Unfortunately, it all boiled down to choosing between him and the three prized rookies the team selected during the last Season 50 draft in Jun Roque, Joshua David, and Vince Cuajao.
“We have the intention of keeping si Shaun. He’s so much a part of our team na ayaw naming bitawan sana siya,” said Guiao.
“Kaya lang nung dumating yung tatlong rookies, it was really a very hard decision. If we kept Shaun, we would have to give up a slot for one of our rookies. And ang hirap mamili.”
Eventually, Ildefonso became the odd man out.
He has since jumped on the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother Dave Ildefonso with the Abra Northern Weavers in the Season 8 of the MPBL.
Then again, there was an even last-minute chance for Rain or Shine’s first-round pick in the Season 47 draft to stay. Guiao disclosed having talked to Roque and the two other freshmen to temper their expectations.
“Yung tatlo na yun actually kinausap na namin. Sabi namin hindi namin kaya kayong i-line up na tatlo. Baka isa or dalawa lang sa inyo,” said the Rain or Shine coach.
“Pero we ended up changing our minds and ni-line up na namin silang tatlo. Na-sacrifice nga lang si Shaun.”
But Roque, David, and Cuajao have blended well with the rest of the Elasto Painters that they became a part of the team’s bench mob in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.
The three had their share of playing time on Wednesday night as Rain or Shine stretched their undefeated streak to seven games following a 124-117 win over Terrafirma at the Ynares Center.
Roque, a first-round pick in the last draft, accounted for 15 points behind a 3-of-7 from three-point range, while Cuajao was 3-of-5 from the same distance as he and David finished with a combined 12 points.
Cuajao’s three pointer in the waning seconds gave the Elasto Painters a new franchise record of 23 treys.
Following the entry of the three rookies, Ildefonso was placed by the team in the Unrestricted Free Agent List (with rights to salary) list as his contract won’t be expiring until the end of the month.
“Hindi pa tapos yung contract niya and nasa UFA siya, but since kinuha na siya ng Abra, magtatapos na rin yung contract obligation namin sa kanya,” Guiao explained.
Yet despite the parting of ways, no bridges were burned between the Elasto Painters and Ildefonso.
“He’s still very much a part of our family,” repeated Guiao.
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