Gary David

Gary Ocampo David (born July 13, 1978) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

He is a five-time All-Star and co-holds the longest streak for consecutive games recording 20 points or more.

Famously known as "El Granada" or "Mr. Pure Energy", he is widely hailed by fans and Hall of Famers as one of the best scorers of all-time in the PBA.

In addition to basketball, David is also an active politician, serving as a councilor in his hometown Dinalupihan since 2022.

David started out as an intramural player at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, the same school he later powered to three runner-up finishes in the NCRAA versus a star-studded St. Francis of Assisi team led by behemoth brothers Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo.

From Lyceum, he joined the Montaña Pawnshop Jewelers in the Philippine Basketball League, winning an MVP award in 2003.

The Tigers, headed by then-coach Chot Reyes, were coming of a banner year in which they finished runners-up in the first and second conference's and winning the 2003 Reinforced Conference title in which Johnny Abarrientos, Rudy Hatfield and Jeffrey Cariaso was still in the fold.

During his rookie season, David found himself coming off the bench with insignificant minutes due to the depth of the team.

As the season progressed, David played more minutes as the team's sixth man but was then shipped to the Air21 Express in the middle of the season.

David entered the 2004 PBA Draft, and was selected as the tenth overall pick by the then-Coca-Cola Tigers.

Air21's acquisition of David was considered a major steal in the 2005 mid-season.

He immediately played significant amount minutes as he backed up then star Ren-Ren Ritualo.

David brought high energy to Air21's running game and was a major factor of the Express securing the third-place finish in that season's Fiesta conference.

David exploded for 19 points to carry the Express to its first-ever Final Four appearance after upsetting the Darvin Ham-led Talk 'N Text Phone Pals, 117–110, in Game 5 of the quarterfinals on January 20, 2006 in Antipolo City.

Throughout the course of the season, David improved his numbers significantly by averaging 21.3 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists to go as he took the role of being the team's main man.

He then got injured causing Air21's semi-finals bid to go down the drain.

Despite improving his numbers and collecting numerous awards along the way, David remained an underrated superstar for most of his early years.

Prior to an unfortunate elbow injury, David was having an impressive season and was on the verge of a probable MVP award, only losing in the voting process to eventual winner Willie Miller.

He also earned several awards during the season including the PBA Most Improved Player and belonged to the Mythical First Team and the All-Defensive First Team.

Despite several injuries in the past, David took the cudgels as the team's go-to-guy after former franchise player Renren Ritualo was shipped to Talk 'N Text and the energetic Ronald Tubid to Ginebra.

In the 2007-08 PBA season, David played only 2 games during the Philippine Cup with limited minutes due to the fact that he was still recovering from a knee injury he suffered the season before.

He then came back to full action during the Fiesta Conference but mostly coming of the bench.

During the middle of the conference, however, David regained his starting spot and minutes and quickly became the team's go-to-guy along with Arwind Santos.

David was 100% healthy and back in full force during the 2008-09 PBA season.

The Express had a formidable starting lineup with Arwind Santos, Ranidel de Ocampo, Wynne Arboleda and Homer Se in his side, David immediately led the Air21 Express as one of the contenders to win the title.

Unfortunately, after trading fellow star Ranidel de Ocampo to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, the team only managed to muster 1 win in the next 4 games without de Ocampo.

Before the trade, the Express were holding on a 7-6 win–loss record and an almost guaranteed quarterfinals seat but then went down to the wildcard phase with an 8-10 record.

His team finished at a disappointing 8th spot.

They faced the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants during the first round of the wildcard phase which they convincingly won 94-82.

However, they eventually lost to the San Miguel Beermen in the second round, 105-86, and failed to booked a quarterfinals seat.

He led his team again in scoring during the Philippine Cup with 19.2 points per game including 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

During the Fiesta Conference, the newly named Burger King Whoppers finished at the number 4 spot and earned a twice-to-beat advantage entering the wildcard phase.

They squandered the Alaska Aces, 96-90, and booked a best-of-3 quarterfinals seat against the Sta. Lucia Realtors which they also won, 2-1 and earned a spot in the final four which they were pitted against the no. 1 team San Miguel Beermen.

They lost the series 4-2.

David, himself, struggled during the semifinals series in which he even scored 0 in game 4, his first ever zero point performance since his rookie season.

The two led the Express to 1st place in the elimination round with an 11-7 win–loss slate.

The Express received an automatic semi-final berth then they faced the Magnolia Beverage Masters which they won the series 4-2.

The Express barge into the Fiesta Conference Finals against the Barangay Ginebra Kings led by Best Import Chris Alexander and Best Player of the Conference Jayjay Helterbrand along with the tournament's leading scorer Mark Caguioa.

The series went down to the wire which the eventually lost in seven games.

David led the team in scoring again after the season, despite the injury, averaging 16.3 points per game.