Ildefonso, Seigle remain unsigned

MANILA, Philippines - Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle, two big stars in the last decade now on the twilight of their careers, are still without a playing contract with five days to go before the opening of PBA Season 39.

Ildefonso and Seigle were not in the official lineups submitted by their respective mother teams to the PBA Commissioner’s Office yesterday.

Ildefonso, 35, has been undergoing therapy and attending their workouts but Petron Blaze remains uncertain on its plan on the two-time MVP.

Meanwhile, Seigle, 36, is still in search of a taker from the free-agent market.

“Officially, we’re still in the process of negotiations. We’ve made an offer, but he wants to test the market,” said Barako Bull team manager Raffy Casyao. “If he finds one, we have to talk to the ball club for a possible (trade) deal.”

Last season, Seigle still got a monthly pay of P350,000, the maximum allowed in the league under the old salary cap rule. But it’s very unlikely if he can still find a team willing to give him the same amount given his current condition. The same with Ildefonso.

Ildefonso and Seigle are the few remaining players from the 90s. Ildefonso was the Rookie of the Year awardee in 1998 while Seigle was the top freshman the following year – both with San Miguel Beer (now Petron).