15 years in the pros, Gary David remains driven as ever

MANILA, Philippines – Gary David turned back the hands of time to score 21 points in the Bataan Risers’101-68 win over the Quezon City Capitals Wednesday night in the MPBL Datu’s Cup action at the Blue Eagle Gym.

David shot 8-11 from the field and grabbed two rebounds to help the Risers win its fifth match in six outings.

After the match, the affable David hoped that late night explosions like this will continue rather than become an aberration.

“I had a good rhythm all game long,” he said of his output. “And the team is coming together which is a good sign.”

This is David’s 15th year as a professional basketball player, and he knows that not many are blessed to play in such a high level of basketball for this long. “Thankful ako talaga kasi hanggang ngayon nakakalaro pa ako tapos meron tayong means to support yung pamilya natin.”

However, David knows that he is getting in on the years (he’s now 40 years old) and he’d like a shot at that elusive championship.

You see, every time he’s been to the finals, he found his team coming up short.

“Nung naglalaro ako para sa Lyceum sa (now defunct) NCRAA, tatlong beses kami nabigo sa finals kalaban sila Ranidel at Yancy De Ocampo (who were then playing for St. Francis of Assisi),” recalled David of his collegiate days.

When he got to the pros, he towed the Air21 and later, the Powerade team to two PBA finals, yet they lost first to Barangay Ginebra and then to Talk ‘N Text. He’s found success with the national team, and has won scoring titles, Mythical Five selections, medals in the Southeast Asian Games, the William Jones Cup, and so on.

What Gary David would really like… is to win a club championship.

Especially with the Bataan Risers.

Playing for the Bataan squad means a lot to him. After all, he hails from Dinalupihan, a municipality of Bataan with a population of a little over 100,000 people.

“And Risers ay representation ng mga tao sa Bataan,” he pointed out after the win over QC. “Kahit nung lumang Metropolitan Basketball Association, walang team ang Bataan. So ngayon, meron silang pride na meron nagre-represent sa kanila.”

“Kapag meron laro ang Bataan, lahat ng tao, hindi lang sa Dinalupihan at kung saan saan —Mariveles, Abucay, Morong, Orani, at kung saan saan pa, ay nanonood. Kinukuwento nila sa magulang ko na sobra silang excited lalo na nananalo kami.”

David joked about being the team’s senior citizen. “Siyempre, sa akin humihingi ng payo at welcome naman. Marami na rin tayong natutunan at pinagdaanan so panahon na magbigay sa iba.”

With the Bataan Risers, he is excited by the roster that has been put together by the coaching staff and management. “Grabe yung suporta ng management sa team. Nakaka-bilib at taba ng puso. So gusto ko rin masuklian.”

Meron nagtanong sa akin na sa lahat ng nagawa ko at napuntahan ko, ano pa yung nag-drive sa akin? Makapag-champion. Yun lang. At siyempre, pamilya at ngayon, mga tao ng Bataan.”