00:00After participating in the Dubai International Basketball Championship last month,
00:05Rising Star Dave Il Defonso has a plan for the next step in his career.
00:10Where will he play?
00:12That's what we'll find out in the story of Rafael Vandayrel.
00:17A reminder for the Filipino basketball fans as to where the Rising Star, Dave Il Defonso, will play.
00:26He's one of the hottest free agents in the Philippine basketball market,
00:30so many are waiting for his decision.
00:33In an exclusive interview with PTV Sports,
00:36the second-generation basketball star confirmed that he will continue his career in the Philippines.
00:43But he won't follow his older brother, Sean El Defonso, in the PBA.
00:48Instead, he will play in the Maharlika Filipinas Basketball League or MPBL
00:54as part of the ABRA Weavers.
00:58I will play in the MPBL with the ABRA Weavers.
01:01I hope you can watch it on March 8.
01:04I hope soon, maybe in the future, I can experience something like that in the PBA.
01:10But as of now, let's focus on the MPBL first.
01:12Il Defonso also added that being a member of Strong Group Athletics Pilipinas is a big part of his development.
01:21Especially the chance to play with the four-time NBA All-Star, Denmarcus Cousins.
01:28Who else can say that they played with an NBA player once in their career?
01:34Of course, I'm a bit of a starstruck.
01:37But I respect him because he knows what he's doing in the NBA.
01:43He's a household name in the NBA.
01:47I'm a bit nervous, but I tried to do my best.
01:51It's like he's looking down on me.
01:53After his last year at Ateneo de Manila University,
01:58Il Defonso played a season in the Korean Basketball League for Suwon KT Sonic Boom.
02:06He also entered the PBA Rookie Draft last year,
02:09where he was selected as the 5th overall selection of Northport Batang Pierre.
02:15But Dave didn't continue in the National League
02:18because his field and Northport didn't agree on his contract.
02:23Meanwhile, the new season of MPBL will start on March 8.
02:28Rafael Bandayrel for Atletang Pilipino for Bagong Pilipinas.
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