{{Short description|Filipino basketball player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Philippine name|Geroy|Ildefonso}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Dave Ildefonso | image = | caption = | position = [[Shooting guard]] / [[small forward]] | height_cm = 188 | height_order = flip | weight_lb = 190 | league = [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League|MPBL]] | team = Abra Weavers | number = 1 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|4|14}} | birth_place = | nationality = Filipino | high_school = [[Ateneo de Manila University|Ateneo]] ([[Quezon City]]) | college = [[NU Bulldogs basketball|NU]] <br> [[Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball|Ateneo]] | draft_year_pba = 2024 | draft_round_pba = 1 | draft_pick_pba = 5 | draft_team_pba = [[NorthPort Batang Pier]] | career_start = 2023 | years1 = 2023–2024 | team1 = [[Suwon KT Sonicboom]] | years2 = 2025–present | team2 = [[Abra Solid North Weavers]] | highlights = * [[List of MPBL champions|MPBL champion]] ([[2025 MPBL finals|2025]]) * [[MPBL Most Valuable Player award|MPBL Most Valuable Player]] ([[2025 MPBL season|2025]]) * [[All-MPBL Team|All-MPBL First Team]] ([[2025 MPBL season|2025]]) * [[MPBL All-Star Game|MPBL All-Star]] ([[2025 MPBL All-Star Game|2025]]) * UAAP champion ([[UAAP Season 85 basketball tournaments|2022]]) }}
'''Sean Dave Geroy Ildefonso''' (born April 14, 2000) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the [[Abra Weavers]] of the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]] (MPBL). He is the younger child of [[50 Greatest Players in PBA History|PBA great]] [[Danny Ildefonso]], thus he is nicknamed "'''Dave I'''" in reference to "Danny I".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Leongson |first=Randolph B. |date=2022-12-22 |title=Baldwin admires Dave I transformation from scorer to Ateneo's 'heart' |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-men/dave-ildefonso-comes-full-circle-with-tab-baldwin-blue-eagles-a2437-20221222 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>
Ildefonso played for the [[Ateneo de Manila University]] [[Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball|Blue Eaglets]] in high school before transferring to [[National University (Philippines)|National University]] in 2018 to play for the [[NU Bulldogs basketball|Bulldogs]]. In 2020, he went back to Ateneo where we would play the rest of his collegiate career.
He then began his professional career in 2023 in the [[Korean Basketball League]] (KBL), playing for the [[Suwon KT Sonicboom]]. In 2024, he was selected with the fifth overall pick by the [[NorthPort Batang Pier]] in the [[Philippine Basketball Association]] (PBA) [[PBA season 49 draft|season 49 draft]]. Ildefonso and NorthPort weren't able to agree on a contract, which eventually left Dave unsigned and getting picked up by the MPBL's Abra Weavers.
He also played for the [[Philippines men's national basketball team|Philippines national team]] in international competitions at both the youth and senior level.
== High school and college career == In high school, Ildefonso was a member of the [[Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball|Ateneo Blue Eaglets]], where he won the UAAP juniors championship in 2018 during [[UAAP Season 80 basketball tournaments|Season 80]], defeating [[National University (Philippines)|National University]]'s [[NU Bulldogs basketball|NU Bullpups]] in three games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarmenta |first=Yoyo |date=2018-03-02 |title=Ateneo outlasts NU to claim UAAP Juniors crown |url=https://www.espn.ph/basketball/story/_/id/22621775/ateneo-outlasts-nu-claim-uaap-juniors-crown |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
Afterwards, he committed to playing for NU to begin his college career, where he joined his father, [[Danny Ildefonso]], who is NU's assistant coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Terrado |first=Reuben |date=2018-03-09 |title=Eaglets standout Dave Ildefonso moves to NU to join dad Danny I, brother Shaun |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-men/dave-ildefonso-nu-bulldogs-uaap |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> Two years later, in 2020, he went back to Ateneo where he won a championship in [[UAAP Season 85 basketball tournaments|Season 85]] in 2022, his final season with the Blue Eagles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isaga |first=JR |date=2020-01-12 |title=Dave Ildefonso leaves NU to play for Ateneo |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/249117-dave-ildefonso-leaves-nu-play-ateneo/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref> Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin praised Dave I for his defensive performance after the culminating game 3.<ref name=":0" />
== Professional career ==
=== Suwon KT Sonicboom (2023–2024) === Before Ildefonso played his final year with Ateneo, he was contacted by teams from the [[B.League]] and [[Korean Basketball League]] to play overseas, but he declined any interest of playing for them at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Matthew |date=2022-06-07 |title=Despite Samsung Seoul interest, Dave Ildefonso to remain in Ateneo |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/despite-seoul-samsung-bleague-interest-dave-ildefonso-to-remain-in-ateneo/241931 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He was ready the following year, however, as Ildefonso entered the professional level with the KBL's [[Suwon KT Sonicboom]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulanday |first=John Bryan |title=Dave Ildefonso officially joins KBL's Suwon KT Sonicboom |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2023/01/08/2236185/dave-ildefonso-officially-joins-kbls-suwon-kt-sonicboom |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=2024-10-03 |title=Suwon KT coach says Dave Ildefonso 'couldn't capitalize on opportunities' |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/suwon-kt-coach-on-why-kbl-team-let-go-of-dave-ildefonso-a793-20241003 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> He was later replaced by Filipino-Italian [[Dalph Panopio]] as the team's Asian import.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=Dalph Panopio set to replace Dave Ildefonso at Suwon KT |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/dalph-panopio-set-to-replace-dave-ildefonso-at-suwon-kt/305299 |website=Tiebreaker Times |access-date=2025-09-11 |date=2024-06-17}}</ref>
=== Contract issues with NorthPort Batang Pier (2024) === On July 2, 2024, Ildefonso declared for the [[PBA season 49 draft]], where he would go on to be selected by the [[NorthPort Batang Pier]] with the fifth pick.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Matel |first=Philip |date=2024-07-02 |title=Dave Ildefonso follows in father Danny's footsteps, declares for PBA draft |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/dave-ildefonso-declares-draft-2024/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref> Despite optimism between both Ildefonso and NorthPort,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Picked at top five, Dave Ildefonso out to repay NorthPort's trust |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/flattered-with-draft-result-dave-ildefonso-vows-to-repay-northport-trust-a2437-20240715 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=2024-08-14 |title=NorthPort optimistic as Dave Ildefonso engages in contract talks |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/northport-optimistic-as-dave-ildefonso-engages-in-contract-talks/309574 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref> they weren't able to agree to a deal, despite being initially offered a two-year max contract by the team. NorthPort head coach [[Bonnie Tan]] also denied of the possibility of the team trading him out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=2024-08-11 |title=Mystery deepens as Dave Ildefonso yet to get in touch with NorthPort |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/rookie-dave-ildefonso-yet-to-sign-offer-from-northport-a793-20240811 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> Danny I, who became an assistant coach for the [[Converge FiberXers]], commented on a Facebook discussion regarding his son's contract situation, specifically mentioning "[[farm team]]" in his comments. The older Ildefonso would later be fined ₱20,000 by commissioner [[Willie Marcial]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacnis |first1=Justine |date=August 28, 2024 |title=PBA hits Danny Ildefonso with fine for comments on son Dave's NorthPort offer |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pba-hits-danny-ildefonso-with-fine-for-comments-on-son-daves-northport-offer/310631 |accessdate=August 28, 2024 |publisher=Tiebreakter Times}}</ref>
=== Abra Solid North Weavers (2025–present) === Ildefonso's fallout with NorthPort meant that he was left unsigned, and on February 7, 2025, he signed a deal with the [[Abra Weavers]] of the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganglani |first=Naveen |date=2025-02-07 |title=Dave Ildefonso Joins Abra Weavers in MPBL |url=https://all-starmagazine.com/news-and-updates/dave-ildefonso-joins-abra-weavers-in-mpbl/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2hbEilVF-oxevtlIzTFYK8WLB6dHjRKsqaJ6d7cMNK9MoCeZaYaPI8xqI_aem_7niajWYJ5UkaTcV5I0SVTA |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=ALL-STAR |language=en-US}}</ref> with his contract reported to be worth ₱420,000 per month for three years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayson |first=Homer D. |date=2025-02-11 |title=COLUMN: Flawed PBA rookie salary scale to blame for Dave I impasse |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/whatever-happened-to-pba-plan-to-raise-rookies-salary-cap-a2244-20250211?ref=article_tag |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> Dave, in an interview with SPIN.ph, stated that he still wanted to play in the PBA, hoping that he can settle on a deal with NorthPort after his MPBL stint due to the team still having his PBA rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=Dave Ildefonso insists no grudges with NorthPort |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/dave-ildefonso-insists-no-grudges-with-northport-a2437-20250210 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> Ildefonso made his debut for Abra on March 9, 2025, the opening day of the 2025 MPBL season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tiebreaker |date=2025-03-09 |title=MPBL: Art Dela Cruz puts on show for Ilagan Isabela as Dave Ildefonso stars in Abra's strong start |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/mpbl-art-dela-cruz-puts-on-show-for-ilagan-isabela-as-dave-ildefonso-stars-in-abras-strong-start/330120 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
On October 24, his PBA signing rights (now held by NorthPort's successor, [[Titan Ultra Giant Risers]]) were traded to the [[Converge FiberXers]] in exchange for [[Kobe Monje]] and Converge's second-round pick in season 51 and first-round pick in season 52.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ballesteros |first1=Jan |title=PBA: Converge acquires signing rights to Dave Ildefonso from Titan Ultra |url=https://www.onesports.ph/pba/article/37214/converge-acquires-signing-rights-to-dave-ildefonso-from-titan-we-can-now-breathe-a-sigh-of-relief |website=[[One Sports]] |access-date=2025-10-24 |date=2025-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=Dave Ildefonso finally traded from Titan Ultra to Converge |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/dave-ildefonso-finally-traded-from-titan-ultra-to-converge-a795-20251024 |website=SPIN.ph |access-date=2025-10-24 |date=2025-10-24}}</ref>
== Personal life == Dave is also the younger brother of Shaun Ildefonso, who previously played for the [[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=2024-04-29 |title=Shaun Ildefonso, Jhonard Clarito signed to fresh RoS two-year deals |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/clarito-ildefonso-given-contract-extensions-by-ros-a793-20240429 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.fiba.basketball/en/players/216467-sean-dave-ildefonso Dave Ildefonso's FIBA profile] * [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Sean-Dave-Ildefonso/Summary/151474 Dave Ildefonso's RealGM profile] * [https://mpbl.web.geniussports.com/competitions/?WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2Fall%2Fperson%2F2406410 Dave Ildefonso's MPBL profile on Genius Sports]
{{navboxes|list= {{Ateneo Blue Eagles 2022–23 UAAP Men's Senior Basketball Champions}} {{2024 PBA draft}} {{MPBL MVPs}} {{Abra Weavers 2025 MPBL champions}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ildefonso, Dave}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:2000 births]] [[Category:21st-century Filipino sportsmen]] [[Category:Abra Weavers players]] [[Category:Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball players]] [[Category:Filipino expatriate basketball people in South Korea]] [[Category:Filipino men's basketball players]] [[Category:NorthPort Batang Pier draft picks]] [[Category:NU Bulldogs basketball players]] [[Category:Shooting guards]] [[Category:Suwon KT Sonicboom players]]