Former Ateneo de Manila standout Dave Ildefonso familiarizes himself with Korean-style basketball when he starts practicing with a team that has signed him up for the Korean Basketball League.
Ildefonso, who earned Mythical Team honors for helping the Blue Eagles win the University Athletic Association of the Philippines cage crown, will leave next week to be with his KBL squad.
Though Ildefonso didn’t name the team he’s joining, it is believed that the son of former Philippine Basketball Association star Danny, will suit up for the Suwon KT SonicBooms.
Ildefonso was relieved that he was still able to ink a contract with a foreign team after turning down some offers last year so he could play for Ateneo.
“I’ll be leaving the country probably next week but hopefully I’ll be allowed to come back here,” Ildefonso said.
“I was nervous this season there will be no offers for me since I turned them down and thankfully, there was another team with a really great offer and I took that opportunity.”
Once he gets settled in, Ildefonso will soon find himself squaring off with other Filipino dribblers in the KBL such as Rhenz Abando of Anyang KGC, SJ Belangel of Daegon KOGAS and RJ Abarrientos of Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
“So, I’ll be entering mid-season right now and after this season, I have one more in my contract. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be playing there,” Ildefonso, who plays guard, said.
“Suwon was the first team to ask about Dave and the only team I know was aggressive in pursuing him. Dave made it clear even before the year started that he would finish his playing years in Ateneo,” Quimpo told Daily Tribune in a previous report.
