IT'S hard to know what's really on the mind of Dave Ildefonso as he watched NorthPort make a dramatic run to the semifinals of the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup.
NorthPort owns the PBA rights of Ildefonso whom the Batang Pier picked fifth overall in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft. But in what has become a unique situation in PBA drafting annals, Ildefonso, whose father Dave is an assistant coach at Converge, never got to play for NorthPort as negotiations with the team fell through.
Without Ildefonso, the Batang Pier are now aiming for a place in the finals and if they succeed, this would be the first time the franchise will achieve the feat and the first time it will compete for a title.
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Was it missed opportunity for the former National University and Ateneo star?
Ildefonso did not say when contacted by SPIN.ph on Monday. But he sent his congratulations to the team and said he hopes that it would win some more.
“Congrats sa NorthPort,” he told SPIN.ph. “Hindi naman ako bitter. Sinasabihan ako ng mga tao na buti na lang wala ako doon kaya sila nakaabot sa semis. Pero sa akin naman, syempre they’re doing great and hopefully they win more games.”
When negotiations with NorthPort became unsuccessful, Ildefonso played with Strong Group Athletics in the Dubai International Basketball Championship. And to complete his estrangement with the PBA, he recently signed a two-year contract with the Abra Weavers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
After everything that happened in the negotiations with NorthPort, he accepted what he said was the next best thing: a stint in the MPBL.
"Buti na lang yung team ng Abra was able to reach out to me and smooth talk lang. Buti naka-agree agad kami,” he said.
But he made it clear that he’s not closing the door on the PBA, saying that it’s still his dream to play in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
“Oo naman. Gusto ko talagang mag-PBA,” he said, citing his family's roots in the league.
Dave’s father, Danny, is one of the 40 Greatest Players in the league and is a two-time PBA MVP. His brother Shaun is playing for Rain or Shine, while his cousin BJ Andrade is with the FiberXers.
“Gusto ko ma-experience na magkalaro kami ng mga kamag-anak ko, si Tatay, kuya ko, at pinsan ko. Kumbaga family legacy eh, legacy ni Tatay so I want to try to at least put my imprint on that legacy. In the near future sana,” he said.
Dave I not closing the door on PBA
What Ildefonso couldn’t say, though, is when that will happen and whether it’s still with NorthPort or another PBA team.
“Di ko naman mako-close yung door na yun kasi sa NorthPort yung rights ko eh,” he stated. “Hopefully, we work something out after the MPBL stint because nakatali tayo. But hopefully magkaroon ng agreement kasi mahirap din yung nagkakagulo at ayaw ko rin naman na nagkakaroon ng issue.”
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