NCC Originals 1981 - Joel Banal

Headed farther and for more

But Joe was a patient cager. He knew how to walt. He knew his time 
would come and when in 1978, The "Mama" plunged into the MICAA to 
play for ITM, Joel got all the chances to prove himself. And he 
did, with flying colors at that, as Joel quickly became a King 
Cardinal with his heads-up performance. He concentrated on practising, 
at times even all alone by himself. "Madalas, nagshoo-shooting ako 
sa gym. Pivot roon, kahit ano basta matutunan lang. I guess it helped 
me much." It did for after the 1979 season, Joel was the highest 
individual scorer of the league, edging among others then NCAA's 
hottest forward Steve Watson, In the process becoming a strong 
contender for the MVP plum. From thereon, he started to receive 
a lot of offers from top amateur clubs in the MICAA until he 
accepted one from Frigidaire, then Crown Motor Sales and now defunct.
"Medyo nahirapan akong mag-adjust sa MICAA. Iba pala sa MICAA, 
kailangan mas malakas ang loob mo, kallangan mas matibay ang

From Sports Weekly Magazine 80's By BARRY PASCUA