GARY David knows time is not on the side of Globalport as far as fighting for a playoff spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup is concerned.
Yet, the 6-foot-1 former Lyceum Pirate star is grateful for the support being given to the team by management amid the import trouble and alarming skid that have endangered the Batang Pier's chances of making the playoffs.
“Nakakatuwa, kasi with five games to go, gumagawa pa rin ng hakbang ang management sa import. At least mabibigyan kami ng chance ngayon,” David told Spin.ph after practicing with an all-Filipino crew a day after Globalport executives decided to send home import Walter Sharpe.
In an official statement released Tuesday, team owner Mikee Romero said `they (Batang Pier) are sending home Sharpe for “conduct unbecoming of a professional,” after he was caught in a photo sleeping in the parking lot in front of a row of bars along Julia Vargas St. in Pasig City.
“Kahit kasi papaano, pinaghu-hugutan namin ng kumpiyansa ang import sa conference na ito. Though di naman namin puwedeng iasa lahat sa import. Para sa amin, lalaro kami at lalaban,” added the sweet-shooting David, whose team tries to arrest a six-game skid on Saturday when the Batang Pier face the Air21 Express at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier currently occupy the bottom of the standings with their anemic 2-7 (win-loss) card.
Globalport team manager BJ Manalo said the team expects new import – its third this conference - Sylvester Morgan to arrive on Thursday after lunch. The 6-foot-10 Morgan, a Georgia Tech product, is coming off a stint in France.
“Kailangan lang mag-pick up ang team sa morale. Siyempre, import conference ito. Malaki ang impact nitong mga nangyayari sa team. Pero naniniwala ako, mas lalong nade-develop ng team yung resilience and yung standing up after a fall,” Manalo said.
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