Ildefonso’s way

The brood of retired two-time PBA Most Valuable Player Danny Ildefonso has always been exposed to basketball. Their earliest memories involve their beloved Tatay playing games, earning accolades and being mobbed by fans after games. Funny enough, Lakay subliminally nudged them in that direction when they were very young. He scattered and conveniently placed basketball-themed toys around them even in their infancy. They were never forced into hoops. But you get the drift. It explains why each of them has found a distinct path into the sport.

Rain or Shine’s 6’2” guard Shaun Ildefonso accidentally injured his ankle when he stepped on his brother Dave’s foot while they were working out over a month ago. This set him back, but with patience and the trademark Ildefonso work ethic, he has come back, and is ready to contribute to Rain or Shine again.

“We both dreamed of being in the PBA,” says Shaun, who transferred from Ateneo to National University in college. “We knew we would find our own way in basketball. I’m very happy my brother is doing well in the MPBL. No one can stop him.”

The Elasto Painters are at four wins and two losses after a big win over Blackwater Wednesday. The goal is to get six victories for a quarterfinals berth, and eight for even better positioning. Shaun knows he has to come along slowly, since his teammates have already been blending well in his absence. He has the greatest respect for Coach Yeng Guiao, and how being an underdog has also transformed him as a player.

“I’m never going to be a star player like Tatay,” says the third-year player. “I’m the hard-working role player. If you want me to dive for the ball, I’ll dive for the ball. If I die on the court, I die on the court.”

The Ildefonso brothers never dreamed of filling in their father’s gigantic shoes. They know their destinies will be entirely different. That maturity has helped them step out of Tatay’s shadow, but instead use the monumental advantage of having an all-time great at home, and learning from the best. But when all is said and done, they are creating their own identities and molding their own legacies. All children of accomplished fathers should be so lucky.