WHAT’S Converge coach Aldin Ayo up to?
In a surprising development, the FiberXers yesterday signed up assistant coach and PBA great Danny Ildefonso to suit up for the team for the rest of the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
Ildefonso, 46, retired from the pro league in 2015 after seeing action for Meralco.
Ildefonso is eligible to play when Converge battles the Bolts today at 3 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A proud son of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Ildefonso carved out an illustrious 15-year career with San Miguel Beer, leading the team to seven titles and bagging the MVP awards in 2000 and 2001.
The 6-foot-6 big man was mostly known for his jams and “raise-the-roof” celebrations, earning him the moniker “Demolition Man.”
He was chosen as the No. 1 pick overall by Formula Shell in the 1998 draft, whose rights were later shipped to the Beermen for second choice Noy Castillo.
Aside from being one of only six multi-time MVP winners in Asia’s first play-for-pay league, Ildefonso was a former Rookie of the Year, a three-time finals MVP, five-time Best Player of the Conference, a two-time Mythical First Team, three-time Mythical Second Team, and an eight-time All-Star.
He was also a member of the 40 Greatest PBA Players of all time.
Ildefonso moved to Meralco in 2013 before calling it quits eight years ago.
In 2017, he linked up with the defunct Alaska franchise as a deputy to former tactician Alex Compton and later Jeff Cariaso and remained with the FiberXers after the Aces disbanded last year.
He also serves as assistant with National University, his alma mater, in the UAAP.
Ildefonso’s two sons– Shaun and Dave — are currently playing pro basketball with Rain or Shine and Suwon KT in the Korean Basketball League, respectively.
