Loyalty Swap: Gary David is going to Mahindra?

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The first week of the new PBA season is over and while you didn’t see the likes of James Yap, Jayson Castro, and Phoenix rookie Matt Wright in uniform, you’ll probably see them eventually.

Not for these guys though. It feels as if locker room attitude, contract disputes, and unwillingness to embrace their current standing paved the way for their ridiculous downfall after that glorious ascent.

One of the obvious emissions is “El Granada” Gary David.

Almost winning the PBA MVP award when he was still with the Powerade Tigers, David’s fall started when he refused to enter the court when Meralco coach Norman Black asked him to. Sure, he’s probably injured but it’s also a dick move to not play basketball especially if your job is to be a basketball player. Meralco refused his first-class moves and was eased out of his contract. David would then join the San Miguel Beermen with hopes of finally claiming his first PBA crown.

The season ended when the Barangay Ginebra Kings defeated the Meralco Bolts.

If he just played, he could have been instrumental in pushing the Bolts to its first title (as well as himself).

Now that San Miguel has released him, David is probably going to retire without a title. This sucks especially since the PBA consists of mostly three conferences in one year. For more than thirty times, he had the chance to claim gold. But he didn’t. Or couldn’t. Worse, I doubt if there are teams that would retire his number as well. In the course of his career, El Granada has enjoyed lengthy stints with the aforementioned Tigers... and the Air21 Express. Unless GlobalPort or NLEX would retire him out of lineage, then Mr. Pure Energy will never get the accolades suited for him.

So here is how I’ll book Gary David’s final hurrah.

First up, I can’t have David using the ABL as means for a return trip. Let’s face it, gone are the days when the predominantly Southeast Asian league is the talk of the town. He also needs to refrain from the other second-rate commercial leagues. If there’s one thing working against Mr. Pure Energy... that my friends is Father Time.

If Gary David cracks another shot in the PBA, what is going to be his motivation? I know it’s not wrong for him to get greedy and look for teams where he’s going to be the go-to-guy but the reality is he was released by a MVP team to get released by a SMC squad. At his age, he needs to veer away from the individual accolades to hunt down on that elusive PBA title.

So this is where the Alaska Aces come in.

The Aces are littered with new blood but at the same time, they are a safe haven for former superstars. At one point they had Eric Menk and right now they still house the likes of Tony dela Cruz and Dondon Hontiveros. In case you didn’t see their season opener, they almost won against the NLEX Road Warriors. The Aces are currently playing sans Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss. NLEX could have pulled even further had not for the explosion of Carl Bryan Cruz.

Alex Compton used Kevin Racal, Jaypee Mendoza, Abel Galliguez, and Marion Magat and while it will pay dividends for the squad in the future, they can use the services of Gary David to win now. El Granada can go to Phoenix, Blackwater, and Mahindra but when it comes to it – the Aces are the only squad in that mix that will give him a championship situation as well as a career rebirth. David can sign a one-conference deal worthy for league vets. If he likes the environment, then the Aces can extend his deal.

This is how I’ll book David’s re-entry of what could be the end of his career. 

A couple of hours ago, the real happening had David going on another route. 

Spin.ph as well as Fox Sports Asia has reported that the 6’2 sharpshooter has signed with the Mahindra Floodbuster. After losing to GlobalPort in lacklustre fashion, the Floodbusters are in need of firepower and with this factoid David should have value. Against the Batang Pier, the squad relied on transferees Alex Mallari and Jeckster Apinan for support and clearly I doubt if these two can carry the squad.

But will it quench David’s chance to win that elusive title? I know the last thing he needs to be is to be choosy but I doubt if Mahindra would even reach the Philippine Cup playoffs. The contract terms are undisclosed but hopefully it's going to be for the remainder of the season with hopes of finding a seriously badass import to tow Mahindra as well as Gary David to their first PBA title. 

Get Sydrified.