Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) courtside reporter and content creator Apple David has broken her silence after her rumored romance with Letran Knights guard Chad Gammad turned into a heated topic online, telling critics to respect what she described as a personal decision between two people who are happy with each other.
David addressed the issue during a TikTok Live session on Monday, May 25, after social media users questioned the reported relationship because of the age gap between her and Gammad, who is 18 years old. David, who has long been known to basketball fans as a familiar courtside presence in the PBA, said the connection was not something she expected but something that “clicked.”
“Masama bang bigyan ng chance ‘yong nag-click, anong gagawin ko? Nag-click eh, what am I supposed to do?” David said during the live broadcast, responding to netizens who criticized her for allegedly dating a much younger basketball player.
The online discussion intensified after fans and social media users began linking David to Gammad, a 6-foot Filipino-Canadian guard who committed to the Letran Knights after playing for Top Flight Hoops Canada. Gammad was among the young players added to Letran’s roster ahead of NCAA Season 101.
While David pushed back against the backlash, she also asked the public to respect their private lives, saying both sides of their families were aware of the situation and supportive. She said it was painful to see strangers trying to tear down their happiness.
“Sobrang hirap bang rumespeto ng desisyon ng ibang tao? We’re happy [and] supportive ang families namin,” David said. “Pangit lang na we’re happy ta’s sinisira niyo ang happiness namin.”
David also reflected on how some relationships and life situations can arrive unexpectedly, saying not everything can be easily explained. “Sa buhay ba natin, lagi tayong nakakapili? Paano ‘yong mga bagay na biglaang dumating na lang na sitwasyon tapos sometimes, you just can’t explain it. I cannot explain it,” she said.
As of the latest reports, Gammad has not issued a public statement on the matter. Coverage from entertainment and sports outlets has also noted that David has addressed the criticism directly, while Gammad has remained publicly silent.
The controversy has since split online opinion. Some netizens argued that the age gap deserves scrutiny, while others said both individuals are legally adults and that the public should refrain from policing their relationship. The debate has also highlighted how quickly private lives of sports and entertainment personalities can become public spectacle once social media gets involved.
David, whose Instagram profile describes her as a TV and events host, sports reporter, and content creator, has built a following beyond basketball through her courtside work and online presence.
Her social media audience has made the issue more visible, turning what began as dating speculation into a broader conversation on age gaps, public judgment, and boundaries in celebrity-adjacent relationships.