IF there’s one person truly proud to see Nelson Asaytono and Danny Seigle enshrined well-deservedly among the 50 PBA Greatest Players, it’s none other than former frontcourt partner Danny Ildefonso.
The two-time MVP said it’s about time the league honored the contributions of the two big men, who he acknowledged made the transition easier for him during his early years of playing professional ball.
“Talagang deserving naman sila na makasama,” said Ildefonso, known as Danny I and the Demolition Man during his time playing alongside Asaytono and Seigle in the late 90s all the way to 2000.
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While Ildefonso has been on the PBA Greatest List for a long time now, Asaytono and Seigle didn’t get their shot to be included in the exclusive group until the league celebrated its 50th anniversary last week.
Asaytono and Seigle were part of the latest 10-man batch to be named to the Greatest’ list along with Abe King, Manny Victorino, Yoyoy Villamin, Bong Hawkins, Jeffrey Cariaso, the late Arniel Tuadles, and active players June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson.
In a way, Ildefonso’s career was intertwined with both Asaytono and Seigle.
The two-time MVP came on board San Miguel as the top overall pick of the 1998 draft at a time Asaytono was lording it over as the main man of the Beermen.
Playing alongside the talented, raging power forward allowed Ildefonso’s game to mature at an early age.
”Ang laking factor at ang laking tulong yun sa akin as a rookie na nakasama ko siya (Asaytono) agad. Nakita ko kung paano siya kagaling at kalakas maglaro,” he recalled of his freshman days learning the ropes from ‘The Bull.’
“Yung kumpiyansa na naibigay niya sa akin kasi nga finals kami agad, ang laking bagay nun sa akin.”
With ‘Lakay’ Danny providing the major role as Asaytono’s back-up, the Beermen reached the finals of the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup, but lost both times to the Alaska Milkmen.
A season later, Asaytono was relegated to an off-the-bench role and then traded to Pop Cola in the middle of 1999 as the Beermen opted to team up the 6-foot-6 Ildefonso with a then rising rookie in the 6-foot-6 Seigle, who was a direct hire Fil-Am of the franchise.
Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, the 1998 Rookie of the Year embraced whatever he learned playing under Asaytono and shared it to Seigle.
“Iba yung kay ‘The Bull.’ Kasi rookie pa lang ako before, shadow niya pa lang ako nun,” recalled the proud native of Urdaneta, Pangasinan. “Ang ganda ng pag-build sa akin nila coach Ron (Jacobs). Role player ka muna. So wala kang gagawin, rebound, takbo, depensa. Ang dali para sa akin, kasi alam ko na yung trabaho ko.
“Yung kay Danny S, kami na yung (anointed) ni coach Ron talaga. Maganda yung pagka-build ng relationship namin, kasi walang inggitan. Kung Best Player (of the Game) yung isa, okay lang. Kung yung isa sumu-shoot, okay lang. So maganda talaga.”
His first team up with the explosive Seigle ended in a playoffs loss to eventual champion Formula Shell in the 1999 Philippine Cup.
But the Beermen ended the season by copping the championships of both the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup in what would be start of the SMB franchise’s renaissance.
Danny I salutes duo
Despite becoming among the main men of San Miguel, Ildefonso, 48, acknowledge Seigle’s presence made life easier for him manning the frontcourt for the Beermen.
“Hindi magiging magaan yung trabaho ko sa loob kung wala siya (Danny S), kasi nga dalawa kami,” he said.
“Lumuluwag (middle). Imbes na sa akin napupunta yung best defenders sa kabila, sa kanya (Danny S) na muna. Naging magaan yung trabaho ko.”
For the two MVPs and championships he won with San Miguel, Ildefonso credited his former teammates for all the help he had gotten, but reserved the biggest thanks to Seigle.
“Hindi ako mag-MVP and mag-champion kung hindi dahil sa kanila, Kaya laking pasalamat ko talaga sa kanila lalo na kay Danny S,” he said.
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