GLOBALPORT’s preparations for the season-ending Governors’ Cup is underway, but the Batang Pier are not obliging main man Gary David to attend practice sessions as the national team continues its buildup for the Fiba Asian Championship in August.
The 6-foot-2 David and the Gilas players returned to Manila on Tuesday following a two-week training camp and tune-up matches against three club teams and the 20-and-under Lithuanian national squad.
Batang Pier team manager BJ Manalo said they are fully supporting Gilas Pilipinas and will not at any time pull out their main gunner from national team duties. He, however, said that David has incredible work ethic that they wouldn’t be surprised to see him show up for some team activities.
“Kami sa Globalport, all-out support kami sa player namin na nasa national team. But knowing Gary, wala naman kaming problema sa kanya sa attiude. Probably, pupunta siya sa umaga para magpakita or makisabay sa five-on-five drills,” Manalo told Spin.ph.
Just last week, Globalport was one of several teams involved in a major trade, dealing shot-blocking big man Japeth Aguilar to Barangay Ginebra in exchange for rookie center Yousef Taha and a 2013 first round pick.
David, meantime, refused to comment on the Aguilar trade. However, he remains hopeful that the move could strengthen the team as it tries to improve on successive last-place finishes this season.
