Known as one of the standout players in this season’s UAAP Men’s Basketball, 22-year-old Dave Ildefonso is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. Using his unwavering shooting skills on-court, he successfully ushered the mighty Blue Eagles into another strong finish this year (despite falling second to UP Fighting Maroons after their historic championship win.)
With that said, it comes as no surprise that he even piqued the interest of foreign teams, including Korea’s Seoul Samsung, albeit he politely declined these offers for one final year at the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ camp, delighting his legions of fans!
Curious about this trending basketball star? Read on for some five facts to get to know him more.
5 Things to Know About Dave Ildefonso:
1. He hails from a family of sports legends.
Aside from his unparalleled hard work, Dave also got his genes to thank for his basketball skills: His dad Danny Ildefonso is a former PBA star, and a two-time MVP at that! During their heartbreaking loss against UP, the older Ildefonso proved how supportive he is to the young cager. In an interview, he shared, "Nag-sorry sakin, ang sabi ko agad, 'Okay lang, okay lang, walang problema. Charge to experience lang, anak.’”
2. He's close to his siblings.
Dave’s siblings Shaun (a UAAP standout himself) and Pia both enjoy social media attention on their own, and given their plethora of sibling goals moments, it’s not hard to see why! In an Instagram post, Dave showcased his love for his younger sister by half-joking about his snide remarks toward Pia's dating life.
3. He's formerly from National University.
Dave spent his first two years in UAAP as one of NU Bulldogs’ frontmen, before transferring back to Ateneo, where he spent his junior days. As for the big move, he cited his international dream as a deciding factor behind it. "My biggest basketball dream has always been to represent the country in major international meets and I feel that this is the best path to that fulfillment of my dream,” he said.
4. He has a huge social media following!
Known not just for his on-court talent but also for his charming boy-next-door looks, it comes as no surprise that Dave is a favorite among UAAP fans. He has 460K followers on Instagram as of writing, and a quick search of his name rakes in over 337 million views on Gen Z-dominated app TikTok. Talk about a social media star!
5. He's representing the country in the upcoming FIBA World Qualifiers Cup.
Playing alongside other UAAP star players including Carl Tamayo and RJ Abarrientos, the 6-foot forward is set to represent the Philippines in the upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in July, under the tutelage of head coach Chot Reyes. We wish you the best of luck, Dave. Fly high!
This story originally appeared on Candymag.com.
* Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
