Altamirano and Dela Cruz join Alaska coaching staff
Ildefonso hired as big man coach
ERIC ALTAMIRANO was drafted by Alaska Milk in the 1988 Rookie Draft, but his playing career was cut short by a knee injury and since then, started embarking in a coaching career.
Tony dela Cruz spent most of his playing career with the Alaska Aces where he served as a long-time team captain of the squad.
Danny Ildefonso won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards in 2000 and 2001 and was crucial in transforming June Mar Fajardo to become the most dominant force in the PBA today which led to the Cebuano slotman to winning the MVP for four consecutive years.
The three will be the key additions to join head coach Alex Compton in the Aces coaching staff this coming PBA season.
“I am really excited about the new coaches we have added to our coaching staff. Coach Eric Altamirano is a proven winner at every single level he has coached, including the PBA. Alaska gets a veteran coach with tremendous experience and character in coach Eric, who is truly a man of excellence,” Mr. Compton wrote in a text message to BusinessWorld.
After his short stint as a player, Mr. Altamirano moved on to coach the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP before becoming an assistant coach to Chot Reyes at Purefoods.
A year later, Mr. Altamirano was appointed head coach of Purefoods and became one of the few rookie coaches to win a championship, leading the Corned Beef Cowboys to the All-Filipino championship. In 1998, he moved to Mobiline, which he also led to winning the Centennial Cup, a side event while the Philippine Centennial Team was preparing for the Asian Games.
He returned as Purefoods coach in 2001, then spent the next year helping out the late Ron Jacobs, succeeded by his understudy Jong Uichico, as the national team coach for the Busan Asian Games.
Mr. Altamirano was also responsible in discovering Mr. Compton in 1997 and brought the American player to the Metropolitan Basketball Association to play for the Manila Metrostars where the latter became a star point guard for the team.
Mr. Dela Cruz, a former national team member, retired from playing last season and there’s no special feeling embarking in a coaching career than joining his longtime squad.
“Tony dela Cruz has always been one of the smartest players in the PBA and he knows the ins and outs of our system as well as any of our coaches. He is an excellent communicator who has a great relationship with everyone on the team and he will make a very smooth transition into coaching,” added Mr. Compton.
Mr. Ildefonso had proven he could be an effective big man coach as what he had done with Mr. Fajardo. He spent the past season helping out the National University Bulldogs in the coaching staff.
“Danny Ildefonso is both one of the best players and best men to ever have played in the PBA. He has always had a tremendous work ethic and has detailed knowledge on how to play the game as a big man. He will surely have a tremendous impact on the development of our big man,” added Mr. Compton.
The inclusion of these new members of the coaching staff came on the heels of the departure of Louie Alas and Topex Robinson. Alas was appointed head coach of the Phoenix Fuel Masters and brought in Robinson, also head coach of the Lyceum Pirates, to become his lead assistant. —