For the love of the game
Banes, 40, loves basketball. He teaches the game on a personalized basis to high school and college players, 12 sessions at a time. Age doesn’t matter. Some of his students are Dom Fergus, Mike Fernandez, Paulo Rabat, Gabby Albano, Rey Yap, James Panaligan, PBA legend Hector Calma’s 12-year-old son Andres and former Olympian Paeng Hechanova’s grandson Rafael III.
“I started individualized training in 2004,” said Banes. “I’m on call. I usually teach at the Palms Country Club in Alabang. My methodology is to give my students the opportunity to improve their game in the most efficient way, to maximize their abilities and most importantly, to develop successful, goal-oriented young men and women, prepared to be successful in life.”
Banes fell in love with the game at an early age and was a waterboy of the San Beda College varsity that won back-to-back NCAA seniors championships in 1978-79 under coach Bonnie Carbonnell. He was in Grade 6 at the time and watched wide-eyed as Red Lion heroes Frankie Lim, Chito Loyzaga, Jayvee Yango, Chuck Barreiro and Cholo Martin brought honors to the Mendiola school.
In college, Banes tried out for the San Beda varsity but couldn’t make the grade.
“The players were bigger and better,” he recalled. “But my love for the game didn’t dampen my spirits. I transformed myself from a frustrated player to a teaching player. My friend Dindo (Pumaren) introduced me to his brother Manong (Derick) who took me in as his understudy for three months then brought me to Franz. I learned more tricks of the trade from Franz and with the
In 1999, Banes took a trip to
After brief stints in the coaching staff of
Last November, Banes decided to make another investment, enrolling at the Joe Abunassar Impact Basketball Camp in
“The mentorship course included strength and conditioning,” said Banes. “Athletes Performance trains high school, college and professional athletes in all sports. I saw David Beckham training at AP and he’s just one of the many stars who go there during the offseason. The training was hands-on and not the type of training where you just observe and try to memorize what they’re doing. I had to undergo the actual rigors of training by doing things myself. It was exhausting and tiresome. The training was from
Banes was the only Filipino enrolled in the course. Others were fitness trainers and
At the Abunassar Camp where the Philippine team has trained, Banes said he picked up a truckload of pointers. “They train individual players like what I do but their system is top of the line,” continued Banes. “One of their students is Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons. The trainers remember the Philippine team fondly and asked me to say hi to Asi (Taulava) and Mark (Caguioa).”
Banes said in
“Coach Kevin was very much interested and I offered to organize a camp in
“I’m definitely going back,” said Banes. “I know I must learn more and be up-to-date with modern and state-of-the-art methods of teaching basketball by going on my own and paying my way to one of the best training facilities in the US.”
For his trip last year, Banes dug deep into his pockets and spent about $4,000 to pay for his training fee, hotel, airfare, equipment and books. He’ll probably spend as much for his trip in March. But if that’s what it takes to make him a better teacher, Banes is prepared to pay the price – for the game he loves.
Banes may be contacted at 0917-3745007 or 802-1168.
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