By Jerome Lagunzad
Newcomer Pasig Pirates intend to make a big splash in the next Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League conference and they may have to do it with the help of former pro league star Gary David.
The 6-foot-2 David, 39, is emerging as one of the top targets of the Pirates after the four-time PBA scoring champion made a good account of himself despite the Bataan Defenders’ early exit in the inaugural Anta Rajah Cup conference.
Dubbed as “El Granada” for his scoring prowess during his heyday, David proved he still has enough gas left in the tank, averaging a tournament-leading 21 points on top of seven rebounds per game while leading the Defenders to the quarterfinal round where they fell prey to the powerhouse Batangas City Athletics.
Pirates owner James Anton Machate admitted that they are seriously considering to tap the services of David, a former Gilas Pilipinas standout who might be left out in the cold with the impending entry of SCTEX as the Defenders’ new backer.
Under the agreement, SCTEX, one of the companies under telecommunications mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, will finance and operate the Defenders, who were previously supported by BaiShipping.
