NU assistant Ildefonso tries to be coach first to sons Dave, Shaun

NU assistant coach Danny Ildefonso gives instructions to son and Bulldogs forward Shaun Ildefonso in a game against UST in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. INQUIRER PHOTO/Sherwin Vardeleon

Danny Ildefonso is a man who faced great adversities in a basketball court, but none prepared him for what unfolded before his eyes at the start of the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

The eight-time PBA champion and two-time MVP watched as his sons Dave and Shaun help National University to a close 75-70 win over University of Santo Tomas while also serving as the Bulldogs’ first assistant coach.

Ildefonso said he had to first forget about that he is Dave and Shaun’s father and act as the two players’ unrelenting coach.

“Actually, that was a really hard situation for me because I had to show to my sons that I’m their coach and I will treat them like regular players,” said Ildefonso in Filipino Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“My tendencies as a father should not be displayed while I’m working and coach Jamike (Jarin) and I talked about this that I won’t allow my sons to call me dad inside the court.”

What made Ildefonso’s stern coaching difficult was that his sons were the best performers for the Bulldogs.

Dave had a team-high 19 points with seven rebounds for the Bulldogs while Shaun had 10 points, all in the third quarter, and 11 boards.

Ildefonso said he only turned back to being Dave and Shaun’s doting father when the buzzer sounded and he knew that he could finally leave his responsibilities as his sons’ coach.

“After the game, I hugged them because as a father you want your sons to excel,” said Ildefonso. “My wife and I prayed that both will come out of the game injury-free and that’s what happened and at the same time we won.”