PBA reporter Apple David reveals relationship with college baller Chad Gammad, asks for respect

A thirty-something reporter and a teenage college basketball player are at the center of a heated online debate.

PBA Courtside reporter and social media personality Apple David and NCAA basketball player Chad Gammad have gone public with their relationship despite backlash and ongoing discussion over their 15-year age gap, with David being 33 and Gammad 18.

David confirmed the relationship in a video statement in May, saying they had been together for about a month. She asked for respect and understanding as they navigate what she described as a “risky relationship” due to their age gap. 

She also appealed for privacy and asked the public to allow them to love in peace. In the same statement, she thanked supporters, saying, “Sa mga tao po na nakakaintindi at nagpahatid ng mga mensahe nila, maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo.”

Weeks before going public, the couple had already sparked dating rumors. On May 17 and 22, David hinted at their relationship through subtle social media posts, including matching photos of their feet wearing white Crocs with the initials “A” and “C”  as well as a black-and-white photo that seems to show them but a face was cropped out. She captioned the posts with a black heart emoji.

Most recently, David shared their first official couple video on TikTok, showing both of their faces. The clip showed them going on dinner dates, working out at the gym, spending time on the golf course, and sharing affectionate moments together. She also turned off the comment sections on her recent posts. Meanwhile, Gammad’s Instagram highlights include photos of David.

As the controversy grew, David addressed the backlash in online discussions and TikTok live sessions, responding to accusations of grooming. She maintained that their relationship is consensual, saying Gammad was already 18 and a legal adult when they met.

The discussion has also been fueled by online jokes and commentary, including suggestions that they should use terms of endearment like “mhie” and “nak” (mother and child). Media personality Bea Borres also gained attention after commenting that their dynamic looked like a “cute mother and son bonding,” which received mixed reactions—some agreed, while others defended the couple and criticized Borres.

Through all the criticism, David has remained firm in her stance, saying that people are free to unfollow her if they feel uncomfortable with her posts. She emphasized that it is her personal life and social media page, and those who are bothered can choose not to view her content.

Apple David also remains active on social media, posting TikTok videos and updates where she appears happy and unbothered. Her professional work seems unaffected, as she remains a courtside reporter. 

She recently reached another milestone in her career by doing her first sports newscast on TV5’s “Frontline Pilipinas,” which she described as a dream come true.