Dave Ildefonso throws name in this year’s PBA Rookie Draft

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Another promising young talent just declared his entry in the upcoming 2024 PBA Rookie Draft that will take place on July 14, 2024.

Dave Ildefonso, a former UAAP champion with the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, confirmed that he will be declaring for the PBA Draft on July 2, 2024.

Ildefonso announced the news during the media day event of the Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas held in Mandaluyong City.

According to the versatile small forward, playing in the PBA is his dream, where he will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of his father, the legendary Danny Ildefonso, and his brother, Shaun, who is playing for the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

Ildefonso is coming off an international hoops experience after signing as a Filipino import for Suwon KT in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

However, Ildefonso received inconsistent playing time with the Korean basketball club and only averaged 4.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.4 steals per game.

From almost playing 25 minutes per game in the UAAP, Ildefonso only managed to log in 10.6 minutes per appearance in the KBL.

During the off-season, Ildefonso chose not to re-sign with the team and didn’t receive any standing offers from the other KBL clubs.

Upon determining Ildefonso’s availability, the Strong Group Athletics immediately tapped him to play for them in the upcoming 43^rd William Jones Cup in New Taipei, Taiwan.

Ildefonso will be boosting Strong Group’s wing pool and will be reuniting with his brothers at Ateneo, Ange Kouame and Geo Chiu.