THE bashing from haters, a ‘dispiriting’ comment from his former coach in Korea, and a botched attempt to play in the PBA are fuelling an impressive Dave Ildefonso season worthy of a historic rookie-MVP honor in the MPBL.
Ildefonso is logging one of the best seasons ever seen in the regional league, averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.7 steals in 27 minutes of action for title favorite Abra Solid North Weavers through their first 23 games.
None of these looked possible during a rough patch in his career that saw Ildefonso lose with Ateneo in the UAAP Finals. get cut by his KBL team, fail to agree on a rookie contract with PBA club NorthPort, and then get bashed as a 'bust' by haters.
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But instead of moping, the high-flying forward of the Weavers hit the gym almost daily, went on a stringent diet, and strived to make himself a better player - with all the setbacks and bashings serving as motivation.
“Yeah, 'yun talaga, one of the things that pushed me to work harder and try to improve myself. Buti nga I landed on a great team in Abra, kahit papano nakakapag-show out ako,” said the son of PBA two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso.
“Motivation ko talaga yung mga bashers, then yung feeling ko nung nasa Korea ako hindi ako nilalaro. One my regrets was Ateneo, yung finals performance ko. So for me, yung mga yun ang nagfu-fuel sa akin everyday.
"Alam ko kung saan ako nagkulang, so alam ko kung ano ang kailangan kong gawin,” he added.
Ildefonso, however, said he had nothing to blame but himself for his aborted stint with Suwon KT in the KBL.
“Kasi medyo, in a way, yung work-life balance dun medyo mahirap. Dun kasi ang mahirap is may language barrier talaga. Na-feel ko na na-alienate ako.
"Although walang may kasalanan, hindi sila English-speaking [country]. Ako as a guest sa country nila, dapat nag-adapt and adjust ako, natutunan ko man lang sana yung language nila,” he continued.
“As a basketball player, nahirapan akong makipag-kaibigan duon (sa Korea). Parang words lang usap namin eh, phrases ganun. Pero gaya nga ng sinabi ko, kasalanan ko rin kasi mababa rin talaga naipakita ko.
"I cannot say na mas pinaboran ang locals, pero yun nagkulang din ako. Halos rookie pa ako nun, ako ang youngest doon."
Having said that, Ildefonso isn't exactly happy when Suwon coach Soon Young Jin, in an interview with Filipino reporters, stressed that his Filipino import "couldn’t capitalize on opportunities" he gave him in the KBL.
“Like I said, I try to use it as a motivation to be a better player and a better person. And besides, tingin ko naman dun, lost in translation lang yun. Pero if indeed it was true, I’d like to prove him wrong. And this is what I am trying to do now,” said Ildefonso.
The reinvigorated Ildefonso bared that he is now giving more time to his training, watching what he eats, and staying away from socialization and nights out.
“Focus lang ako muna sa training ko, may nutritionist ako who takes care of the food I take in. Then halos 6 times a week - 2 to 3 times a day - nasa gym ako. I really want to improve myself and prove to them (bashers) who Dave Ildefonso really is,” he said.
“My goal is to be better and try to get back to where I was before and get a second chance,” he said, keeping an open mind on another possible stint overseas. “I want to show them a different Dave.”
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For now, Ildefonso bared that his main goal is to bring Abra Solid North Weavers to the Promised Land in the MPBL.
“Maganda kasi ang suporta sa amin ni Congressman JB Bernos and (Solid North Partylist) Cong. Ching Bernos. Kaya gusto naming suklian ng maganda yung suporta nila sa amin, na kahit andito kami sa Pilipinas, we get to almost get the benefits we get playing overseas,” he said.
Asked if winning a historic Rookie of the Year-MVP sweep in his ultimate target, Ildefonso shook his head.
“I’d rather be happy and contented winning it all for Abra with my teammates. That’s the goal right now. Yung individual titles, bonus na lang yun. I want to win this conference for our supporters in Abra and hope we get to do it again next year,” he said.
'Nakikita ko sila'
As for his bashers, Ildefonso bared that negative comments will always be his motivation to strive harder, perform better and improve himself every game.
“Laking pasasalamat ko rin sa mga bashers. Although sinasabi nila na hindi ko sila nakikita, nakikita ko sila. Kung sino man magsabi na player na hindi nila binabasa yung comments, hindi totoo yun. Lahat tayo nakikita yan sa social media,” Ildefonso said.
“It’s always nice to have that eh, parang meron kang chip on our shoulder din eh. Pero ako lang, yung sinasabi nila, hindi yan yung tunay na Dave. May kaunting fine-tuning pa, pero I think I am heading in the right direction,” he said.
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