ATENEO head coach Tab Baldwin wanted to send a message to their future recruits - and he couldn't have picked a better time to deliver that.
Facing National University which boasts of highly touted recruit and former Ateneo Juniors star Dave Ildefonso, the message was loud and clear:
Before leaving the nest of the Eagles, one has to think really carefully.
“Dave, as everybody knows, was a very valued recruit for Ateneo. And we ended up not getting him. I think that we wanted Dave to rethink that decision or perhaps in hindsight, wonder why he made that decision,” said Baldwin.
Against the Eagles, Ildefonso was held to just four points after putting up averages of 17.5 in the first two games as the Bulldogs dropped a horrific 72-46 loss against the defending champions on Saturday.
Maybe this will make future Ateneo recruits think twice before making a decision.
“We want that next recruit that’s in that position to remember today. We'll continue to put performances on the court that hope for all of our recruits to take note and think that this is the right place to be,” Baldwin said.
“Because they don't want to be on the other side.”
Ildefonso, however, believes that he totally made the right decision to join his brother Shaun and father Danny in Sampaloc.
He understands that as an athlete in general, especially if you’re a rookie, games like that are bound to happen.
“I don’t think I made the wrong decision in switching schools. Whatever statement they were sending me, I didn’t get it. First game, rookie year, no pressure at all. I’m bouncing back, yun lang,” said Ildefonso.
“Part din naman ‘to ng athletes, ups and downs, kelangan ko lang talaga maging consistent. Babawi naman talaga ako. Yung Ateneo lang talaga si very good competitor – great minds, great coaches, great players,” he added.
The 6’3 forward said that he’ll still be treating the next Ateneo games like every other game – and that seeing his high school teammate SJ Belangel bleed for minutes on the court all the more justifies his decision to move.
He did have a message for Baldwin before exiting the interview.
“Isipin mo si SJ limited minutes, kung nag-stay ako dun, mas lalo na ako, mas limited,” said Ildefonso.
“I think I made the right decision, coach Tab, right decision and I’ll see you soon.”
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