Is 6’6″ Fil-Canadian Christian David the PBA’s next big thing?
Photo from Christian David/Instagram
If you’re still hung over from the recent FIBA games, Fil-Canadian Christian David is here to keep that court spirit alive as the 25-year-old officially joins the PBA.
In Sunday’s PBA draft, the 6’6 player was chosen the second pick overall by Blackwater Bossing, just behind top pick Stephen Holt.
Who is Christian David?
Hailing from Milton, Ontario, Canada, David has been honing his craft since high school and played for Vermont Academy in the US.
His parents, Ariel and Tess are both from Pampanga and his deep connection with the Philippines means that his PBA journey seems like destiny waiting to happen.
Christian David is the 2nd overall pick! @BWEliteForce #PBAGatoradeDraft pic.twitter.com/V9DoaOOTy4
— PBA (@pbaconnect) September 17, 2023
After spending high school at Vermont Academy, he took his talents to Butler University in Indiana, but unfortunately had to be sidelined during the 2019-2020 season owing to an ACL injury.
But like any true blue basketball player, David bounced back with a vengeance. In his senior year, David averaged 11.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists per game, 52 percent from the field, and 81 percent on free throws.
David even ranked at No. 69 in the national rankings for class 2017 National Rankings, and rivals placed him at No.93, proving he’s got the numbers to prove he’s the real deal.
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PBA dreams
After conquering the courts in the US, he flew to South Korea to play with the Seoul Thunders in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), where he played for three months. Though he missed the PBA Draft Combine, as he just arrived on Wednesday, he still felt it was perfect timing.
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“I’ve always wanted to play here in the Philippines because my parents are from here. Just felt like the right time,” said the 25-year-old David in an interview.
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While he believes his height can set him apart in the PBA, he is also a natural scorer and playmaker. And though his KBL stint may have been brief, it was an eye-opener for him.
“It was a good experience. I was in Korea for three months. Very professional. Good teams over there. Good players. It’s good,” he said.
Will David dunk his way to PBA glory? We’ll have to stay tuned in the next season slated to begin on Oct. 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
