MAKING EVERY MINUTE COUNT
For a guy nearing the twilight of his career, is there anything else Danny Ildefonso wants to achieve in his final conference?
The elder statesman from Urdaneta, Pangasinan is keeping his goals low.
“Makatulong lang sa team, para ipakitang sulit yung bayad nila sa akin. Yun lang talaga ang goal ko: yung may maiwanan akong maganda dito sa Meralco,” he said.
And on Sunday, playing the always tough Star, Ildefonso had one of those quality games.
Though his eight point-performance in 19 minutes against the Hotshots pales in comparison to his numbers during his glory days a decade ago, it was more than expected from Ildefonso.
Defending former teammate Marc Pingris and playing in the clutch, the two-time MVP held his own against younger counterparts, even hitting a key basket after import Andre Emmett stole the ball to put the Bolts up, 83-79 in the final minute.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay God. Answered prayer din sa akin kasi yun ang gusto ko, na kahit paano, makatulong ako at quality minutes yung binigay sa akin ni coach Norman (Black),” he said. “Buo lang yung loob ko. Nagpakita lang ako kay Andre. Buti na-shoot naman.”
And as he counts the days towards his final game in the PBA, Ildefonso sure is making every minute count.
“Yun ang pinagpepray ko, maging maganda lang yung performance ko para maganda yung retirement sa July at magawa ko yung ineexpect ng coaches ko sa akin,” he said. (RL)
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