Dave Ildefonso was the fifth overall pick in the 2024 PBA Draft. However, after a contract dispute with NorthPort Batang Pier, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle opted to take his talents to the MPBL’s Abra Weavers instead.
Hmmm...
Historically, the fifth pick has produced stars like Scottie Thompson, Sonny Thoss, Macmac Cardona, Mark Barroca, John Arigo, and Sol Mercado. Of course, there have also been names like Adrian Wong, Trevis Jackson, Josh Vanlandingham, Mike Burtscher, and Ogie Gumatay.
The difference?
We’ve seen how their careers played out.
After leading Ateneo, Ildefonso played in the KBL for Suwon KT Sonicboom, scoring 210 points, 72 rebounds, and 50 assists across 44 games in two seasons. Solid? Ummm... sure. But demanding top-tier pay requires top-tier numbers. If this was Dwight Ramos, I’d get it—his stats and impact speak for themselves.
Ildefonso?
I think he needs to show us proof first.
Even Mikey Williams, Ray Parks, and Jordan Heading had stronger resumes before joining the PBA. Williams was a battle-tested international pro, Parks had NCAA Division I experience, an NBA Summer League stint, and a G-League run, while Heading explored all his international options before averaging 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in his first PBA conference.
At the end of the day, it’s hard to set your price when the buyer doesn’t see the value.
No offense to KBL and B.League fans, but let’s be real—most Filipinos who play in East Asian leagues are there for the exposure. Sure, RJ Abarrientos is the frontrunner for this season's PBA Rookie of the Year, but he’s still a young player learning behind Scottie Thompson. And while his stints in Korea and Japan helped his growth, I’d bet he’s picking up even more under the guidance of Scottie, LA Tenorio, league veterans, his uncle Johnny Abarrientos, and Tim Cone.
I get why Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Rhenz Abando, SJ Belangel, and Dwight Ramos chose the Far East over the PBA—they had the right mix of opportunity and talent. But not everyone who took that route got the same shot. Take Avan Nava, for example. He averaged just 3.8 points for the Seoul Samsung Thunders before declaring for the 2024 PBA Draft. Despite his international experience, he slipped to 12th overall, with San Miguel picking him up. In the Governors’ Cup, he put up just 0.9 points and 0.7 rebounds in seven games, then didn’t see action at all in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The Japan-Korea-Taiwan leagues offer solid competition, but despite declining attendance, the PBA still provides better action and long-term security. Just look at Shaun Ildefonso and BJ Andrade—both barely play for their squads, yet you don’t hear them complaining. Even San Miguel’s imports for both the Governors’ and Commissioner’s Cup realized the PBA isn’t the “easy league” they expected.
As for Dave Ildefonso, the team he was supposed to play for likely wouldn’t have given him major minutes anyway. With San Miguel and NLEX out of contention, Arvin Tolentino is now a clear frontrunner for Best Player of the Conference. Scottie Thompson, Adrian Nocum (who’s looking more and more like an Ato Agustin clone), and Calvin Oftana could still make a push, but Tolentino has built a strong case.
Dave Ildefonso plays a similar role to Tolentino, and if he tries to shift down a position, he’d be up against Joshua Munzon. This is easier said than done. Munzon is a former top pick with international experience, but when Terrafirma selected him in the 2021 PBA Draft (Season 46), he didn’t make a fuss about his salary. Sure, as a first-overall pick, he was eligible for the P420,000 max, but he put in the work. Now, NorthPort is reaping the rewards.
At least there’s a silver lining for Dave Ildefonso—if there’s one thing the MPBL does well, it’s player development. Just look at Adrian Nocum, who’s been playing at an elite level. This league has also been the launching pad for once-unknown names like Jhonard Clarito, Mike Ayonayon, and Aris Dionisio.
With many college standouts choosing the MPBL over the PBA D-League, the influx of talent is undeniable. That said, the competition can be a bit tricky. Much like the PBA’s SMC/MVP teams versus the farm squads, the MPBL has its own power divide—some teams are stacked, while others struggle to keep up.
At the end of the day, the market dictates the value. If a player wants the moon, he better have the numbers—and the impact—to justify it.
For Ildefonso, the path to redemption is clear—he has to play like the small-forward version of Justine Baltazar if he wants to justify what he believes he's worth. In a short period, he needs to lead the Weavers into MPBL elite status while putting up MVP-level numbers.
It’s not impossible—Balti pulled it off twice. But the real question is, can Ildefonso do the same?
Get Sydrified.