24-year old Raphael Banal will go down in history as the top overall pick in the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft.
Though little was known of the former Ateneo Blue Eaglet prior to his year but the 6-foot-2 guard let his game do the talking after standout performances in the PBA D-League and the rookie combine just a week ago.
“Actually there were a lot of rumors already for the past couple of days but coming into the draft I was just really enjoying everything, not really expecting anything,” the second-generation cager said moments after he was announced as the first pick in the regular draft, Sunday afternoon.
“A lot of teams saw me in the draft, so after the combine that’s when things started to become a little bit chatty and stuff. But really this whole process during the draft I was just really keeping an open mind and just trying to enjoy everything.”
However, having the distinction of being the first overall pick comes with pressure. A whole lot of pressure as he, together with Gilas cadet Mac Belo, are set to be the cornerstone of the Blackwater Elite, a three-year old franchise that has yet to reach the playoffs. Banal though looks to embrace the pressure and turn it into an opportunity.
“There’s always going to be pressure. Anyone has pressure. It’s about seeing it as an opportunity to get better and an opportunity to rise.”
And he and his father believe that his transition to the pro ranks will be easier as his head coach Leo Isaac is a former teammate of his father back in their collegiate days.
“I know coach Leo. He was my junior when I was in Mapua,” Ael’s father Joel Banal said. “When I was playing, he has a desire to win, he won’t quit, he’s proven that. He won in Mapua, he won in the teams that he played for.
“Ang sabi ko kay Ael is you’re in good hands kay coach Leo, coach Bong [Ramos] and the Blackwater management.”
“Coach Leo’s a good coach, I’ve known him since I was a young kid. My dad used to coach against him so he’s at the professional level and any coach at the professional level is a great coach. So I look forward to working with him,” the younger Banal added.
