The 46-year-old big man is the oldest active player in the PBA this conference.
Danny Ildefonso came out of retirement earlier this month after the Converge FiberXers inserted him into their 15-man roster. The 2-time MVP hasn’t suited up for any PBA team since 2015 but decided to give his playing career another go. Well, why not?
In 2011, after recovering from a serious ankle injury, Danny I helped the San Miguel Beermen capture the Governors’ Cup title, and was named Comeback Player of the Year by the PBA Press Corps. Clearly, he’s got a knack for that kind of thing.
On that note, let’s take look at some of the most remarkable player comebacks in league history.
Bogs Adornado
The PBA’s Comeback Player of the Year award is actually named after Bogs Adornado. There’s a good reason why. The high-scoring forward was the league’s MVP in its first two years of existence (1975-1976). But in the Open Conference of the 1976 season, Adornado sustained what was supposedly a career-ending knee injury.
At a time when advanced rehab methods and high-tech surgeries were yet to be discovered, the 6-foot-2 marksman persevered, eventually winning his third MVP plum in 1981.
Danny Seigle
Ildefonso’s tukayo and frontcourt partner with SMB has one of the most underrated comeback stories ever. From 1999 to 2001, Danny Seigle embodied his moniker Dynamite as he lit up the entire league. But in 2002, while playing in an exhibition game with the national team, Seigle suffered a torn achilles that kept him out of commission until 2004.
Two years later, Danny S scored at least 20 points in 19 straight games during the Philippine Cup, breaking Alvin Patrimonio’s record in the process. He was named Best Player of the Conference. By the end of the season, after returning to his old high-flying form, the eight-time All-Star received the 2006 Comeback Player of the Year award.
Benjie Paras
The Tower of Power won his first MVP trophy in 1989 as a rookie. After a decade, he once again won the league’s highest individual honor. The incredible return to his MVP form after such a long period simply makes Paras’ comeback one of a kind.
His rookie-MVP feat and him winning two MVP plums 10 years apart are two PBA records that will likely stay untouched for a very long time.
Bong Alvarez
Mr. Excitement is a two-time recipient of the Bogs Adornado trophy. Like the award’s namesake, Alvarez incurred an injury that was supposed to cut his career short. In 1990, he ruptured his Achilles tendon, and in the following years, off-the-court issues hampered his career. Still, the athletic guard ended up as the 1993 and 1997 Comeback Player of the Year.
Kelly Williams
Call Machine Gun Kelly the PBA’s ultimate comeback kid. In his 16-year career, he’s had three amazing comebacks. The first of which was when he returned from a blood disorder that hit him just a year after he was crowned 2008 league MVP. With the help of his first PBA team, the Sta. Lucia Realtors, Williams overcame his health issues and once again became an All-Star caliber player.
In 2017, he won his second Comeback Player of the Year award after seven years. Williams came off another bout with his blood disease and an MCL injury to boot. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-6 forward persisted and went on to secure his seventh PBA Mythical Selection.
And finally in 2020, Williams announced his retirement. But a year later, his discoverer Chot Reyes asked him to reconsider and join him back in the TNT Tropang Giga camp. The seven-time champ obliged, which resulted in him making the PBA All-Defensive Team at age 40.