Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Danny Ildefonso believes their batch of San Miguel will beat current Beermen


Danny Ildefonso is immensely confident that his San Miguel team could take down the present-day Beermen. 

The two-time PBA Most Valuable Player said as much when he and his batchmates had a reunion on the 2OT podcast hosted by PBA broadcasters Magoo Marjon and Carlo Pamintuan.

The question came up when Marjon asked the group how would they fare versus the current San Miguel crew, who are, of course, spearheaded by reigning six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.

Fajardo’s Beermen have won eight titles so far since 2015, including five consecutive Philippine Cup crowns — making them arguably the best All-Filipino crew of all time.

“‘Di sila mananalo sa’ min,” Ildefonso answered quickly, drawing laughter from his teammates such as Olsen Racela, Danny Seigle, Nic Belasco, Dorian Peña, and others and coach Jong Uichico.

Comparisons are inevitable between eras, especially with a franchise like that of the Beermen, who are the winningest team in Asia’s pioneering pro league with 27 championships.

The San Miguel crew featuring Ildefonso, Seigle, and Racela was a fearsome and dominant one. Together, they won a total of five championships in a span of nine conferences from 1999-2001.

It is tough to provide a definite answer on who will win that dream match-up. But what cannot be denied is how great both these San Miguel teams are in their own ways.

For Racela, what made their particular batch successful was the selflessness of each and everyone in the team.

“Kaya naging successful ang team na ‘to is because ‘yung mga players are not thinking of themselves, but more of ‘yung goal ng team. ‘Yung goal of the team is more important than the role,” he said.

“Perfect example, one is Boybits [Victoria] na starting point guard sa ibang teams, and he accepted his role. Si Nic [Belasco] is one, he perfectly did his role for the team. Dwight [Lago] is another. All of these players, pwedeng maging starting player or starting for any other team.

“Ang isa pa is ‘yung relationship nung aming star players, between the two Dannys. ‘Yung relationship nila, feeling ko that was also a very crucial part kasi hindi nagsasapawan ‘yang dalawang ‘yan eh,” Racela added.

#ReadMore  PBA 3x3: Platinum unscathed, Limitless aims to repeat heading into Leg 6 QF
Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.




You May Also Like

Basketball

Leo Austria credited his time away from coaching after steering San Miguel back to the Promised Land by conquering the PBA Season 49 Philippine...

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo has no doubt that the PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player award landed in the hands of the most deserving....

Basketball

There remains one ultimate goal that June Mar Fajardo wishes to accomplish, even though he has already authored a Hall of Fame-worthy career. “Grand...

Basketball

Jericho Cruz’s first eight years in the PBA weren’t exactly what he envisioned. But everything changed when he joined San Miguel. Though a key...

Basketball

History repeated itself as San Miguel denied TNT a shot at PBA immortality by capturing the Season 49 Philippine Cup title following a 107-96...

Basketball

TNT kept its hopes alive as it stopped San Miguel from clinching the championship after grinding out an 86-78 victory in Game 5 of...

Basketball

Chris Ross cleared the air over his verbal exchange with Jojo Lastimosa after San Miguel’s Game 4 win in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals...

Basketball

Jericho Cruz defended his actions late in San Miguel’s eventual victory over TNT in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday...

Advertisement