IN the PBA, he is known as “Mr. Pure Energy.”

To rival players, he is always the  last sight in the world they  would want to see with the game on the line and the ringside  announcer barking last two minutes.

To  most coaches, he’s like their worst  nightmare coming true all over again.

With the ball in his hands, which is frightening enough,  Gary David of surprise PBA semifinalist Powerade Tigers can easily take over the game. He  can  burn  his  defenders either with  his elegant  outside shots or  perfectly-timed  drives to the basket.

Fans watching the semifinal series between Powerade and  Rain or Shine  now even call  him “Terminator” even  if he’s  less than the size of  Arnold   Schwarzenegger.  Rain  or Shine  players  have tried  zone defense, man-to-man, hard fouls, intimidation and thrash talks. Why, some even resort to divine intervention. 

But  they can only do so much.

David plays the game of basketball the only way he knows it--  like a stealth bomber that you don’t see coming until  you hear the swish of the  net. He doesn’t stand  around  waiting for someone to go get  him the ball. He  goes around and gets it himself. When he has the ball, he’s as unstoppable  as tomorrow.

And when   the  defenses  turned solely to him, David casually passes the ball to an open teammate.

When you look at the numbers  David is putting up for Powerade in  the  gruelling best-of-seven semifinal series, you’d think Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant or LeBron James  has agreed  to  come  over and  lead  the Tigers over the Painters.

Consider:

30 points in  95-114 loss  in Game 1.

32  points in 121-113 win in Game 2.

31  points  in  104-99 overtime win in Game 3.

30 points in  95-110 loss  in Game 4.

Surely, a 6-2 forward from  Lyceum of the Philippines University doing  four of the “12 Labors of  Hercules.”

It’s  not  hard  to  imagine what else he  can do in   the  coming days.

Although  an  eight-year veteran of  the  league, David still plays with  the  same  bundle of   bursting energy of a kid getting  his  first ride at the  Enchanted Kingdom.

Players who have guarded him in the past feel so spent and exhausted chasing him around  and  asking his teammates, “Anybody  here see Mr. Pure Energy? He  was just  here  a  moment ago.”  They  know he  could  be  as elusive and slippery  as Gringo Honasan and Ping  Lacson in hiding.

Against David, Rain or Shine’s resident defense specialists Gabe Norwood and Jervy Cruz can be as cold as a marble statue and  spitfire Celino Cruz can be  several steps slower than a  pickpocket in Quiapo. 

Well, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao  finally found a way to beat  Powerade and level the best-of-seven  semifinal series with a victory on Tuesday night.

His  winning formula: let David do his thing and clamp down on the  four other Tigers on the court.

But even Guiao  would  admit there’s still a lot of work to do.

With the series down to a best-of-three, Guiao  expects David to continue to play like David.

And  that  spells  trouble, more trouble, for the Painters.

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The Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. High  School  (ERJHS)  will  hold  a special goodwill basketball match   pitting Batch 81 and  Batch  85 as  part of  its  60th  anniversary  celebrations  on Feb. 23-25.       

Dubbed  “Magsaya,  Makiisa  at  Maki Fiesta si Yoyong 60 Na”, the  friendly  match   will serve  as  one of the  highlights of the  three-day celebrations  marking  the  60th  anniversary of  the  founding of the  leading Quezon  City  public high school.     

ERJHS  Alumni president Jess Asistin ( Batch 76) and vice presidents  Mell   Marigmen (Batch 74) and  Zeny Castor (Batch 70) will be  personally  present during the sports competitions.       

Batch 81, which will  be   handled  by  People’s Tonight sports  editor  Ed   Andaya, will  be  led  by  Norbert   Borromeo,  Dindo Nadonga,  Roland  Doncillo, Rizaldy  de la  Cruz, George Arrieta, Ronnie Contado, Ed de los Reyes, Jong Marcos, Arnold  Nadonga, Let Manasis,  David David and Isagani de Leon.   

Batch 85   will be  bannered  by  playing  coach  Joseph   Realista, Jhun  Padua,  Ronald Carillo, Lito  Acbo,  Raul  Maneses,   Bobby Agpao, Jaime Lapuz., Memeth  Coronado, Arnold  Lopez, Bernard  Episcope, Wewel Cortina-Mercado, Lito   Morales, Danilo  Miranda, David   Refuerzo and Albert Andaya Jr.   

For  inquiries  about the  grand reunion, call /text   Zeny Castro  (0922-890 9352) or   Edith Francisco (0932-7894643).

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NOTES -- Birthday greetings to Kian Martinez, son of Raymond and  Kathy Martinez of  Bacoor,  Cavite, who turned one year old last Jan. 11

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