DESPITE slipping out of the top three in Sunday’s PBA Annual Rookie Draft, incoming Alaska rookie guard Chris Banchero said he was happy to join a team with a rich championship tradition.
The six-foot Fil-Italian guard out of Seattle Pacific University was earlier tipped to go as high as No. 2 in the draft, but some strange twists saw the cat-quick playmaker land at No. 5 overall.
“I’m just happy to be in the PBA. And I’m happy to keep playing basketball because nobody knew where I was going. It was up in the air,” Banchero told Spin.ph after the annual draft.
Banchero, a proven winner after leading the San Miguel Beermen to last year’s Asean Basketball League title, said he’s actually excited to play alongside Alaska stars JV Casio, Sonny Thoss and Calvin Abueva for the incoming season.
Banchero said he intends to start studying the triangle offense, something Alaska has been known for en route to producing the Uytengsu-owned franchise’s first 14 championships since joining the PBA in 1986.
“I’m excited because Alaska has a lot of good players like Calvin, JV, Sonny, who have done a lot of winning,” said the Fil-Italian guard . “I’m gonna get into the books and start learning (the triangle offense) right away.”
Banchero, 25, also said he doesn’t see any problem splitting time with Casio, Alaska’s top outside gunner, vowing to be ready to contribute every time he’s on the floor.
“I just try to be a good point guard, be a good defender and be ready to knock down open shots, and be able to play under the triangle,” he said.
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