YOUNG gun Dave Ildefonso confirmed on Tuesday that he has left National University (NU) to rejoin his high-school team Ateneo de Manila.
In a social-media post, Ildefonso said that he is bringing his act again for the Katipunan-based squad after playing for two years with the Bulldogs in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
He said one factor that pushed him to return to Ateneo was his aspiration of representing the country in big tournaments abroad.
“I have made the decision to return to Ateneo to continue my basketball journey. My biggest basketball dream has always been to represent the country in major international meets and I feel that this is the best path to that fulfillment of my dream,” he said.
He was part of the strong Ateneo juniors team that won the UAAP title in Season 80 along with fellow prodigy Kai Sotto.
Ildefonso transferred to NU and joined his brother Shaun and father, former pro player Danny who was serving at the Bulldogs’ coaching staff.
The athletic forward averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds, but his efforts fell to a losing cause as the Bulldogs finished dead-last in the eliminations with a 2-12 won-lost card in Season 82.
“It’s never a goodbye. No matter where my basketball journey takes me, I will always carry with me the memories and lessons that I gathered while wearing the NU jersey,” Ildefonso said.
“NU will always be a part of the person that I will become,” he added.
Under league rules, Ildefonso will complete a year residency before he could wear the Ateneo jersey. He still has three years of eligibility in the UAAP.