Dave Ildefonso's much-anticipated PBA debut remains a distant dream. The son of PBA legend Danny Ildefonso finds himself in a contract limbo with the Northport Batang Pier, despite the 49th season already underway. This situation raises a critical question: is Northport making a colossal blunder by refusing to negotiate a trade?
Snow Badua of Spin.ph reveal Northport offered Ildefonso a mere P150,000 monthly salary – a stark contrast to his Korean stint with Suwon KT. Understandably, this underwhelming offer, coupled with Northport's history of trading away key players, doesn't exactly inspire excitement in the young prospect.
While Northport secured Ildefonso's rights through a tender offer, their refusal to engage in trade talks seems shortsighted. Several PBA teams expressed keen interest in acquiring the former Gilas Pilipinas player, potentially offering a significant haul in return.
Rain or Shine's initial inquiry was promptly shut down, followed by similar treatment for Converge's offer, which reportedly involved the coveted Justin Arana. Even NLEX, with Coach Jong Uichico's established connection to Danny Ildefonso, couldn't secure a deal, despite offering a rookie player.
Meralco's proposal, including a future first-round pick and Alvin Pasaol, also met a dead end. This pattern highlights Northport's puzzling strategy.
Northport, seemingly unfazed by the stalemate, claims a surplus of players in Ildefonso's position. However, this ignores the potential to leverage a high-demand prospect for a significant trade package.
Meanwhile, the Ildefonso camp, harboring a strained relationship with Northport's ally San Miguel Corporation, seems equally unmoved. With the PBA rules heavily favoring the team in this scenario, Ildefonso's options outside the league become more likely.
Northport's rigid stance could come back to haunt them. By rejecting potential trade offers, they risk losing out on valuable assets that could bolster their team. Ildefonso's talent is undeniable, but without a motivated player and a fair contract, the Batang Pier might be left holding an empty bag.
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