Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso. Photo from Suwon KT.

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/1727874940241IMG_5187.jpeg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso. Photo from Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.">Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso. Photo from Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA &mdash; The Suwon KT Sonic Boom were successful in opening their East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 campaign with a huge victory against the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday.The visiting squad did well despite playing on SMB&rsquo;s home soil, with the Korean Basketball League (KBL) squad showing out in the second half for an 87-81 win at the Mall of Asia Arena.&nbsp;But despite being the visiting team, Suwon KT is not really new to Philippine basketball culture especially since they previously had a Filipino import in their team &mdash; Dave Ildefonso.<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/10/2/san-miguel-turned-back-by-suwon-kt-in-easl-opening-2020">READ: San Miguel turned back by Suwon KT in EASL opening</a>&quot;First of all, Dave is a really handsome guy,&quot; Suwon KT&#39;s coach Song Young-Jin quipped after the game when asked about their former Asian quota reinforcement.&nbsp;Ildefonso played for two seasons in Korea for the Sonic Boom from 2022 until 2024, with the former Ateneo de Manila University standout appearing in a total of 44 games in two years.<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/1727875096259IMG_5439.webp" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso. Photo from Suwon KT.">Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso.&nbsp;Photo from Suwon KT.He averaged 5.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in his first year there, and he followed it up with 4.4 markers, 1.0 boards, and 0.9 dimes in his second and last year.&quot;Obviously, we really helped him a lot to try to adjust to the team,&quot; said Young-Jin. &quot;We gave him a lot of opportunities, obviously, and he stayed two seasons.&quot;Coach Song then explained why Ildefonso is not with Suwon KT anymore.&nbsp;&quot;The second season, he couldn&#39;t capitalize on those opportunities. He was a good player, but he wasn&#39;t a really good fit for our team so unfortunately, he is no longer with us,&quot; added the Sonicboom coach.&nbsp;Ildefonso eventually returned to the country and was eventually drafted by the NorthPort Batang Pier as the fifth overall pick of the 2024 PBA Rookie Draft, but he has not signed the offer of the Bonnie Tan-mentored team since being selected last July 16.&nbsp;Ildefonso last saw action in the 2024 William Jones Cup and won the tournament&#39;s championship with Strong Group Athletics.&nbsp;RELATED VIDEO:<ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3070278"></ivs-player><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/10/2/san-miguel-turned-back-by-suwon-kt-in-easl-opening-2020">READ: San Miguel turned back by Suwon KT in EASL opening</a>&quot;First of all, Dave is a really handsome guy,&quot; Suwon KT&#39;s coach Song Young-Jin quipped after the game when asked about their former Asian quota reinforcement.&nbsp;Ildefonso played for two seasons in Korea for the Sonic Boom from 2022 until 2024, with the former Ateneo de Manila University standout appearing in a total of 44 games in two years.<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/1727875096259IMG_5439.webp" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso. Photo from Suwon KT.">Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso.&nbsp;Photo from Suwon KT.He averaged 5.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in his first year there, and he followed it up with 4.4 markers, 1.0 boards, and 0.9 dimes in his second and last year.&quot;Obviously, we really helped him a lot to try to adjust to the team,&quot; said Young-Jin. &quot;We gave him a lot of opportunities, obviously, and he stayed two seasons.&quot;Coach Song then explained why Ildefonso is not with Suwon KT anymore.&nbsp;&quot;The second season, he couldn&#39;t capitalize on those opportunities. He was a good player, but he wasn&#39;t a really good fit for our team so unfortunately, he is no longer with us,&quot; added the Sonicboom coach.&nbsp;Ildefonso eventually returned to the country and was eventually drafted by the NorthPort Batang Pier as the fifth overall pick of the 2024 PBA Rookie Draft, but he has not signed the offer of the Bonnie Tan-mentored team since being selected last July 16.&nbsp;Ildefonso last saw action in the 2024 William Jones Cup and won the tournament&#39;s championship with Strong Group Athletics.&nbsp;RELATED VIDEO:<ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3070278"></ivs-player><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

The visiting squad did well despite playing on SMB&rsquo;s home soil, with the Korean Basketball League (KBL) squad showing out in the second half for an 87-81 win at the Mall of Asia Arena.&nbsp;But despite being the visiting team, Suwon KT is not really new to Philippine basketball culture especially since they previously had a Filipino import in their team &mdash; Dave Ildefonso.

<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/1727874940241IMG_5187.jpeg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso. Photo from Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.">Former Suwon KT Sonic Boom player Dave Ildefonso. Photo from Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA &mdash; The Suwon KT Sonic Boom were successful in opening their East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 campaign with a huge victory against the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday.

The Suwon KT Sonic Boom were successful in opening their East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 campaign with a huge victory against the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday.

The Suwon KT Sonic Boom were successful in opening their East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 campaign with a huge victory against the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday.

Coach says Dave Ildefonso 'couldn't capitalize on opportunities' with KBL team | ABS-CBN News

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Coach says Dave Ildefonso 'couldn't capitalize on opportunities' with KBL team

Coach says Dave Ildefonso 'couldn't capitalize on opportunities' with KBL team