Throughout his stint as Ateneo de Manila University coach, Tab Baldwin always had great leaders to count on.
From the likes of Matt and Mike Nieto, Thirdy Ravena, and Gian Mamuyac, the former New Zealand national team mentor always had at least one guy who commanded his troops.
The one who is trying to step up to that role is Dave Ildefonso, who is playing his final year as a Blue Eagle in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
“I’m really happy because we got our bench guys – our third group – was able to play. I think that’s much more fulfilling and I’m very happy to see that because that’s how we gel more as a team,” said the second-generation cager who scored 20 points in the Ateneo’s win over University of the East. “Just seeing those guys pour their hearts out in the game and getting the minutes that they deserve because they just keep on working every single day in our practices.
“They’re our scout team and they just give everything they have. I’m just really happy for the team right now.”
Holding a precarious 46-44 edge during halftime, the Blue Eagles exploded with a 19-0 run capped off by Angelo Kouame’s basket in the 4:58 mark of the third quarter to seal the win.
The Red Warriors were then too demoralized to retaliate at that point and they were left to lament their missed shots as well as their mistakes on defense, which allowed the Ateneans to capitalize.
“(UE) was getting good looks and they were just missing their shots. The starting of five of that second half, we just pulled each other together and we were trying to get Ange going really because Ange wasn’t really present in the first half but we were trying to get it to him,” said the former National University standout.
“We have that much belief in him because, in my opinion, Ange is just a force of nature and I don’t think (the Red Warriors) have someone to guard him height-wise. We just shared the ball more, get the good spots, and get great opportunities for us,” he continued.
“Thankfully we made those shots and thankfully Kai (Ballungay) played really well today.”
For all of Ildefonso’s talent on the court, though, Baldwin wants his senior to develop his leadership skills.
Being a leader is a very big responsibility and some are natural at it while others grow into that role.
Ildefonso is trying to adjust to it as things stand and he is trying to step up to the plate.
“(BJ) and Dave both as the wings in this game, they were going to be pivotal (in terms of) the way UE plays and the way our systems work. Both of them got it going today,” said Baldwin. “You could see in their eyes… Maybe you (Dave) want to share about what we talked about last night. I really believe in these two guys a lot and they’re so important for our team.
“Coach Tab pulled us together, BJ and I, he just really talked about how pivotal we are and how he called us lazy leaders. I’ve been always a lead of example kind of player and BJ’s like that too,” said Ildefonso.
“Coach Tab pulled us in, talked to us, and said that won’t work for this team and we had a talk, BJ and I. We tried to make that transition and hopefully through these next practices, through these next games, we’ll be better leaders in the eyes of the great coach Tab.”
Leadership in any field is a difficult art to work on. There will always be challenges that test one’s mettle.
Ildefonso has his mandate from Baldwin and it is up to the former to prove he has what it takes to be the alpha male of the group.
