Joel the prophet

It was a very animated, interesting conversation members of the sports media had with UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila’s head coach Joel Banal yesterday at the SCOOP Sa Kamayan. Banal, the rookie coach who steered the Blue Eagles to their first championship in 14 years, revealed a lot of the backstory in this year’s rise to glory.

"I remember watching game 3 of last year’s finals at a family gathering," Banal recalled. "Ateneo was leading by 10, and La Salle started to come back. I had to leave, so I jokingly said ‘If Ateneo loses, I will be their coach next year.’ Then I left."

This was even before he had applied for the job, and was said in jest. It proved prophetic, and soon lived up to his name. After all, Joel was a Biblical prophet, and "banal" means holy in the vernacular.

A few scant months later, Banal found himself on the shortlist of Ateneo’s search committee, awaiting a final interview beside Jun Reyes, the Ateneo alum backed by an impressive roster of basketball expert Ateneans. Instead of the casual conversation like the first interviews, the former Mapua Cardinal found himself staring down a long table of alumni and school officials, probing to find his worth as the savior of their basketball program.

"They asked me why I wanted to be the coach of Ateneo," he remembered vividly. "I said ‘Somebody has to stop La Salle.’ "

That response probably earned him the job. But his selection caused an uproar among alumni, who were already disappointed for consecutive years because of their inability to win a championship. Many questioned his religious beliefs, his background, his ability, even to his face.

Banal won Ateneo its first PBL championship, but many remained unconvinced. After all, he had other veterans on that team, including savvy point guard Celino Cruz. But he had another take on it.

"I was leaving it all up to God, asking that He let us finish the work He started in us," Banal admitted. "After all, this was all just in preparation for the UAAP. And we only had two weeks to prepare."

Ateneo got off to a good start, then started to stumble. They had lost forward Paolo Bugia and guard Magnum Membrere to injury, with fireball LA Tenorio to fracture a hand bone later on. Then they sank to four wins, five losses, losing five of six games in the process.

"Some people were already talking of next year," he admits. "But I knew we could still do it. We just had to find out what it was we needed to do. Then, during one meeting, Andrew Cruz said something: ‘Three years ago, we were nobody. We were just playing for pride, and doing well. We have to get back to that.’ " Then something changed.

What changed was their attitude. Players started wanting to know more about what they were doing right and wrong. They were blending better. They were leaving things up to God, doing their best, but letting go of the ultimate outcome. They started winning, and racked up seven straight.

"During one emotional meeting, I said to the boys, take me to the Finals, and I will win you the championship. Rich Alvarez jumped up and yelled ‘I believe!’ "

Banal paused.

"Now I had a problem."

And despite their successes, there were still other obstacles to overcome. They had to beat UE twice, needing a shot of a lifetime from Jeck Chia to do so, then suffered a bout of overconfidence after a close victory in Game 1 of the Finals.

"We had to remind ourselves that this was a team that had gone 13-0, that had won four straight championships," he says. "It was not going to be given to us."

The night before Game 3, Banal, who had been fasting and reading his Bible constantly, slept well. He woke up at five a.m., opened his Bible, then went back to sleep. Then he found out that Game 1 hero Larry Fonacier was hospitalized, and could hardly get out of bed. Banal literally banged his head against the wall. Fr. Caluag reminded him that God was always going to let them have what was best for them.

Without all their spiritual searching and growth, helped by Ateneo vice-president Fr. Tito Caluag, it would not have worked. And the backing of sincere, devoted, generous alumni really made a difference.

And when the Blue Eagles finally won, Banal felt relief, and wanted to sit down. But he was pulled by euphoric fans, players and alumni. Success was the best revenge.

"This was all for Mr. Manny Pangilinan and Fr. Caluag, who have always been there for us. They have given us all the support we could ask for. I really wanted to win it for MVP, especially after Talk ‘N Text lost. And Fr. Tito’s support was really constant. And the players and assistant coaches. The coaching staff is always in the shadows, but their presence made a big difference."

Just a season ago, Joel Banal was looking for work. Today, he may be offered a PBA head coaching job, or may try to start a dynasty for Ateneo. He has held his head high against the great criticism – often uncalled for – and won with honor.

As it says on a shirt the coaching staff printed for the players, this prophet has the heart of an Atenean.

This week’s episode of The Basketball Show will feature the Adidas Streetball Challenge Finals. It airs on RPN 9 at 12 noon.