Sidebar: Raphael joins Banal clan of pro stars

MANILA, Philippines – Blackwater, as expected, made Raphael Banal No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 PBA regular rookie draft yesterday, putting the Banals on line to make history as the first “father and sons” to have played ball in the local pro league.

Once Raphael finally struts his stuff on the PBA hard court, he’s joining father Joel and brother Gab in the PBA roster of players. Raphael, 24, and Gab, 26, will also go down in PBA history as the first second generation brothers to play in the league.

The Banal family in the PBA annals also includes coach Koy Banal, Frank Golla and Jonathan Banal. Koy (former head coach of Barako Bull and Phoenix) is younger brother of Joel while Frank (a Blackwater Elite) and Jonathan (a former PBA draftee) are cousins of Raphael and Gab.

Conrad Banal, a journalist, is another member of the family who played the game, donning the Ateneo Blue Eagle jersey in the 70s. A son also became an Ateneo Eagle in the 90s while two other nephews also played college ball.

“We’re so big we can easily form a basketball team,” said Joel, a versatile player with Great Taste from 1981-86 before graduating to coaching and winning championships at all levels – NCAA, UAAP, PBL and PBA.

The Webbs have their own record, having three generations of players in the PBA – Freddie Webb, his son Jason and grandson Joshua. “We may also achieve that also as my grandson Noah is showing good potential at eight years old,” said Joel.

Joel’s passion for basketball easily rubbed off on Gab and Raphael – the third and fourth of five kids with wife Jenny. Elder sons Juan and Miguel also played the game, making the Ateneo Team B during the time of Rico Villanueva, LA Tenorio and company.

Interestingly, Joel, Gab and Raphael all had their turns to serve the national team before turning pros.

A former Mapua King Cardinal, Joel played for both the national youth and men’s team. He’s a member of the original NCC training pool with Ricardo Brown, Willie Pearson, JB Yango, Frankie Lim, Itoy Esguerra, Botchok Lauchengco, Manny Victorino, Ricky Relosa and Ed Cordero.   

Gab suited up with the Phl youth in the 2008 Asian joust in Tehran, Iran with Golla, RR Garcia, Ian Sangalang, Norbert Torres and Matthew Wright under coach Franz Pumaren.

Raphael also played for the Phl youth in 2010 in Yemen with Troy Rosario, Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng, Gelo Alolino, Russel Escoto, Mike Tolomia and Kevin Ferrer under coach Eric Altamirano.

In their youth, Joel and Koy got interested to play basketball when they were exposed to the game while serving as mascots of the team managed by their late father – Police Col. Conrad Sr. – in Magdalena, Manila.

“My father didn’t play but served as manager of the San Jose de Troso Parish Church in an inter-parochial tourney. Koy and I were the team mascots,” said Joel.

They then grew up playing the game in Caloocan, and it became their ticket in obtaining college scholarship.

Second-generation PBA players continue to grow. Among them are Dodot Jaworski, Renren Ritualo, Billy Mamaril, Jomar Tierra, Richard Yee, Marlon Basco, Marlon Legaspi, Marc Agustin, Junjun Cabatu, Bacon Austria, Paolo Hubalde.

In the current PBA roster, there are Japeth Aguilar, Arthur dela Cruz, Rome dela Rosa, Ralph Reyes and Jeric Teng. But the Banals are the first second-generation siblings in the PBA.

Playing brothers seen in the league earlier include the Cezars, the Cleofases, the Loyzagas, Codiñeras, Capacios, Pumarens, Tierras, Pinedas, Aldaneses, the Marquezes, Clarinos, Seigles, Lagos, the Narons, Frans, Singsons, Lanetes, De Ocampos and Semerads.