Gab Banal lubos ang pasalamat sa Bacoor

MANILA, Philippines — Ninerbiyos si Gab Banal nang malaman na halos kumpleto na ang line-up ng mga koponan bago magsi­mula ang Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Raja Cup.

Mabuti na lamang at pumasok ang Bacoor City Strikers sa pinakamalaking regional league.

“It was the last MPBL team to be formed and I had no team that time,” paggunita ni Banal, ang 22nd overall pick noong 2014 PBA draft at naglaro para sa mga collegiate teams na La Salle at Mapua.

Bago maglaro sa MPBL ay kilala na si Banal sa labas ng pro league matapos katawanin ang bansa ng ilang beses sa FIBA 3x3 Challenger, Asia League at sa William Jones Cup.

Iginiya din niya ang Go for Gold Scratchers sa PBA D-League Foundation Cup title noong 2018.

Sa kanyang paglalaro para sa Bacoor City ay nakahanap ang 29-anyos na swingman ng pamilya at isang tahanan.

Ibinigay nina Strike at Chaye Revilla ang kanilang tiwala kay Banal para pangunahan ang koponan.

“My overall experience with Bacoor was great. It’s in Bacoor where I really got to develop my game. The management is great. Cong Strike and Ma’am Chaye treated me like their own that’s why I wanted to show how grateful I am by doing my best every game,” ani Banal.

Iginiya ni Banal ang Strikers  sa semifinals appea­rance sa kanyang MVP season sa Datu Cup.

Ngunit nagkaroon si Banal ng left MCL sprain kung saan hindi niya natulungan ang Bacoor City sa Game Two at Three laban sa Basilan Steel sa semis series ng Chooks-to-Go Lakan Cup.

“I hope I repaid their generosity by winning the MVP and leading the team to back-to-back south semifinals appearance. We didn’t quite make it all the way but I’m proud of what we’ve achieved,” ani Banal, nagtala ng mga averages na 16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds at 6.2 assists sa una niyang dalawang seasons sa Bacoor.

“It’s much more painful than the injury itself. As a team, we’ve worked hard for almost a year. It hurts that you can’t do anything but cheer your team on especially in the most important stretch of the season. I tried to do whatever I can do to help the team through motivating them,” sabi ni Banal.

Mula sa Srikers ay lumipat si Banal sa Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards para sa 4th season ng Chooks-to-Go-backed league.