SMB ouster gives two Dannys more time to heal

For some solace to San Miguel Beer booted out of the PBA Fiesta Cup Conference, its early ouster has given Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle ample time to undergo surgery and rehabilitation for their injuries in time for the opening of the new season in October.

Seigle has bone spurs on his right Achilles scraped on an arthroscopic surgery Saturday. Ildefonso is to undergo the same procedure on his left foot anytime this week.

"Both Danny I and Danny S will be back in time for the opening of the new season," said San Miguel coach Jong Uichico.

"Actually, matagal na nilang iniinda ang injuries nila. Nagkaroon ng pagkakataon makapagpaopera ng maaga dahil na-out kami (in the Final Four race in the PBA transition tourney)," Uichico added.

Minus an import and their two ace locals, the Beermen made a graceful exit in the Fiesta Conference by nipping the US Pro-Am Selection, 104-102, on a buzzer-beating follow-up shot by Nick Belasco off a miss by Joey Mente.

Uichico also said he sees the Beermen being competitive in the All-Filipino with Ildefonso and Seigle back in harness.

Curiously, all four teams figuring in the crossover best-of-three semifinals have key players nursing injuries.

There’s Coca-Cola import Mark Sanford who’s long been enduring bruised knees, Talk n Text forward Harvey Carey who’s still sidelined by a sore back, Ginebra pointguard Bal David, out with a hamstring injury, and Red Bull Barako’s Topex Robinson and Denver Lopez both hampered by ankle injuries.

Lopez has skipped their last two games while Robinson sat out their last game versus Talk n Text Saturday. Both are expected to play at the start of the semis tomorrow.

Coca-Cola has reactivated Freddie Abuda from the injury list but lost Bong Hawkins in the process as the 6-foot-4 forward was picked by his former team Alaska Milk from the reserve list.— Nelson Beltran