David wants out of Barangay Ginebra

This is a sad news to the Ginebra legion.

Unhappy over his diminishing playing time, Bal David has declared he wants out of Barangay Ginebra.

One of the only two remaining players of the Robert Jaworski-mentored Gordon’s Gin team which vanquished Alaska Milk for the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup championship, David, through his agent Danny Espiritu, has sought the management’s blessing for them to look for a new team.

Alaska Milk and Shell have expressed interest in taking in the veteran pointguard and, at presstime, were studying the possibility of a trade deal with Ginebra. With a gaping hole in the middle, Ginebra prefers a big man in exchange for David.

Though still Ginebra’s starting pointguard, David felt he’s no longer needed by the team with coach Allan Caidic now giving backup pointguard Jayjay Helterbrand more playing time.

The Star couldn’t reach Caidic for comment.

"Wala namang personal dito. Tingin lang ni Bal hindi na siya kailangan ng Ginebra baka pwede na lang siyang ilipat sa ibang team. Maganda na rin sa Ginebra ito dahil ang mahal naman ng ibinabayad nila kay Bal para lang umupo sa endgame," said Espiritu.

David is tied up with Ginebra up to next year. At the moment, David is receiving a monthly pay of P350,000. Helterbrand, meanwhile, receives no more than P200,000 a month.

There’s no question, though, that Helterbrand is slowly eating up David’s playing time. In the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup, David is now only playing an average of 21 minutes a game compared to Helterbrand’s 28 minutes. In the recent All-Filipino, it was the reverse – David averaging 28 minutes a game and Helterbrand 21 minutes.

Thus, David’s numbers are deeping, too. The former UST Tiger in the UAAP now averages only 7.5 points a game – the fourth best among the team’s local players with Jun Limpot norming 15.8 points, Mark Caguioa 15 and Helterbrand 11.

David and his agent informed the team management of their intention to look for a new team Friday after the Kings toppled the Aces, 96-83. Helterbrand together with Caguioa and new import Jerald Honeycutt teamed up at endgame to deliver the killer blow on Alaska.