David rediscovers shooting touch against Kazakhstan

MANILA, Philippines – It began and ended against Kazakhstan.

It has come full circle for Gary David as he exorcised the demons of his past shooting woes in the game that mattered.

“Kung matatandaan niyo, sa laro against Kazakhstan nagsimula ang struggles ko kaya tinapos ko ngayon,” David told reporters right after his best game in Gilas uniform. (If you remember our game against Kazakhstan before, my shooting struggles started there which I ended now.)

David went to oblivion after his forgettable two-point stint against Kazakhstan in what served as Gilas Pilipinas final tune-up game before the tournament.

What transpired next was probably the worst shooting slump in his entire basketball career.  

David’s character was tested. And he responded.   

In the game that mattered and where the crowd chanted his name with so much love, David responded with the biggest game of his life.

The man who rose to popularity for his “nagliliyab na kamay” (flaming hands) torched the Kazakhs in their rematch with 22 points including three straight early on that ignited the rout.  

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes knew it was only a matter of time before David will rediscover his shooting touch.

“He was there from Day One. It was something for me personally that I felt was part of basketball. Shooters, their job is to shoot. But sometimes they miss,” Reyes said.

“The worst thing I could have done is limit him and to stop giving him his minutes.”

With the pressure growing as the tournament goes deeper, Reyes had to do what he does best – motivate.

“I spoke to him briefly at practice yesterday.  He did some extra work. I gave a comment about something in his shot. And I said you’re still going to get your time,” Reyes keeping his faith on his embattled gunner.

And David rewarded his faith and confidence in him by seizing and not shrinking in the big moment.

“That’s what he does.  He puts the ball in the hole. That’s why he is in this team. I could not abandon him after making himself available and giving up all his rest, and vacation, family time,” Reyes said.

David shot 7-of-11 from the field including 4-of-6 from downtown.

He was serenaded by chants of “Gary! Gary! Gary!” when he entered the game with Gilas going for the kill after erecting a 20-7 lead.

By the time David scored his third straight triple, Gilas Pilipinas has already taken the fight out of the dumbfounded Kazakhs, 32-13.

“Ito yung Gary David na nakilala niyo,” David told Philstar.com on his way to the press room. “Inisip ko lang kung ano yung mga ginagawa ko dati, bakit ako nag-i-struggle dito [sa FIBA Asia], kinalimutan ko lang lahat yun at kinuha ko lang ang sarili ko sa bahay kahapon.” (This is the Gary David that you came to know. I just thought about the things I’m doing before, why I’m struggling in the tournament, I just tried to forget everything and got myself from the house yesterday.)

David is now hoping that the end of his slump is the beginning of a hot streak.