Dave gets last laugh against older brother Shaun
Brothers Shaun and Dave, sons of PBA legend Danny Ildefonso, finally faced each other on the opposite sides of the court as Ateneo took a 74-64 win over National University in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament Tuesday night, April 5.
The former teammates met each other for the first time as opponents since Dave, who had suited up for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, made a homecoming in the men's basketball team two years ago amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
But the younger Ildefonso had the last laugh as he delivered clutch plays along with Gian Mamuyac to lift the Blue Eagles past the Bulldogs and maintain an unblemished 5-0 record this season.
For Dave though, there was no extra motivation needed heading into the match despite facing his brother and former teammates as well.
"I never really need it as a player. That's what I strive to be not needed of. I want to be a player that doesn't need motivation," said Dave. "I'm just really, I was really excited to playing NU because I wanted to see how they were, this year and thankfully I'm really happy for them because they had a great system this year."
The Gilas Pilipinas stalwart added that the Bulldogs, since leaving the Jhocson-based squad in January 2020, are in good hands with coach Jeff Napa.
But Dave, who led Ateneo with 14 points and three assists, could not help but take a jab at his older brother.
"It was fun facing him cause he is a much more physically gifted athlete than I am and it was really hard guarding him especially when he was downhill. But you know, I try to sag on him a bit more because he has no shot, he has no shot," said the 21-year-old Dave with a chuckle to which Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin responded that "it was not in the scouting report."
"That's in my scouting report. 'Cos I really know his weaknesses and some of the guys there. I played with them for so long so I kinda know their strengths and weaknesses so I tried to help out my team and defending them. Sadly, it didn't work out but we got the win," added the two-time member of UAAP Juniors' Mythical Five.
Shaun, for his part, had expected that Dave would be the main gunner for Ateneo but maintained that it was Ange Kouame who made the difference down the stretch.
The older Ildefonso recalled that NU, which sustained a 2-3 record, is much more focused on defending Ateneo as a whole and not individually.
Nonetheless, the veteran Bulldog, who chipped five points and three rebounds, is more than satisfied with how his teammates responded not only against Dave but the Eagles as a whole.
"Tuwang-tuwa ako on how we performed today (Tuesday) but 'yon nga, a loss is a loss. We just have to move forward but you know, be thankful for the experience that we have," said the 24-year-old Ildefonso.
"Syempre, pagkatapos ng laro, magkapatid naman kami pero kanina naman talaga I think of him na kalaban talaga and sobrang masarap 'yong feeling na you know, finally kalaban ko siya and for sure masasabi rin 'to ng tatay ko and it was ajoy playing against him and against Ateneo. It was much more stronger and talented team."
Dave takes a 1-0 record but it's not too late for Shaun as the second round of the tournament is just around the corner. ###