THOUGHTS | INTERNATIONAL PLAYER CONDITIONS

A couple of months back, I stumbled upon a blog about Dave Ildefonso. Reports said the Ateneo wing got homesick in South Korea, missing his family. Fair enough, but I think there’s more to the story. Suwon paying Ildefonso to basically sit on the bench might sound insane to us, but for a country as rich as Korea, it’s no big deal.

When he returned to the Philippines, got drafted by NorthPort, and eventually suited up for the Abra Weavers, Ildefonso made it clear he’s here to prove a point. That’s the thing: for all the chatter about Arvin Tolentino being “just a volume shooter” or Rhenz Abando “lacking play sense,” there’s a bigger picture that often gets missed.

The main driver for these moves? Money. Players stall their PBA stints because, in their primes, they’re chasing financial freedom. The second factor is opportunity. Sure, we now see Geo Chiu, Juan Gomez de Liano, and Dalph Panopio entering the PBA, but like other international returnees, they’re still treated as rookies no matter what they’ve done abroad.

The PBA has evolved since the days of 50-point-scoring imports. Guys like Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson aren’t just mercenaries — they’re leaders and culture guys. But imports here or in Korea are cut from the same cloth: high expectations, instant impact, and the reality that they’re expendable if they don’t deliver. Coaches won’t hesitate to bench or criticize them, the same way we handle subpar imports in the Philippines. Gone are the days when ex-NBA players automatically got superstar treatment.

And that’s the reality our international players face. In the Far East, the expectation is simple: respect the culture, work like crazy in training, and forget your “star” status. The problem? These are grown men on contracts, not kids breaking into the scene. Even if they stay five years, they’re unlikely to have their jerseys retired or be given long-term perks. That privilege still belongs to American imports.

That’s why a guy like Juan Gomez de Liano might need the PBA to truly regain his confidence. Geo Chiu may struggle with a lowball Terrafirma deal, though things could change if the franchise is eventually sold. NorthPort’s rumored entry into Pureblends could also mean bigger resources — maybe enough to bring someone like Dave Ildefonso back for good. He’ll probably take a pay cut leaving the MPBL, but he’s too talented to stay in that league forever. As for Tolentino, once his ban is lifted — or once he tires of the constant nitpicking overseas — a PBA return feels inevitable.

At the end of the day, playing abroad has its pros and cons. The money is real, but the respect isn’t always there. That’s why our players need thick skin, just like overseas Filipino workers who endure the grind in exchange for financial security. If they want to build wealth, they’ll have to accept the trade-off.