Alaska believes Gab Banal can still play at the PBA level as the team signed him up for the upcoming season.

The team on Thursday, February 18 welcomed the addition of the do-it-all forward, who has not played in the PBA for years.

“Gab has shown that he is a two-way player with a high basketball IQ,” Alaska head coach Jeff Cariaso said.

“The challenge for him is to level up in the PBA and we strongly believe he can do that,” Cariaso added.

Banal, the son of former PBA player and coach Joel Banal, entered the PBA as the second-round pick of San Miguel in the 2014 Draft.

He saw action for GlobalPort but played limited minutes in his first couple of years in the league.

Outside the PBA, though, Banal thrived as he led Go For Gold to the 2018 PBA D League Foundation Cup title and won the Finals Most Valuable Player award in the process.

Banal also captured the MVP plum in the 2018-2019 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup when he suited up the Bacoor Strikers.

His accolades solidified his case as one of the best players outside the PBA.

“Sometimes, all you need is an opportunity,” Cariaso said. – Rappler.com