Banal says he isn’t Cone, and that may be a good thing for Alaska

MANILA, Philippines—Joel Banal is slowly finding out that living up to Tim Cone’s public legacy is only half the battle. The other half is living up to authoritative figure Cone stamped on his players.

“[I wonder] what the players are thinking now,” Banal said when asked on some of his concerns now that Alaska has started the post-Cone history franchise on the skid marks of a 0-2 card. “I hope they won’t wait and see what happens first before playing their hearts out.”

The tailend of those back-to-back losses came against the B-Meg Llamados, who are now being coached by Cone. After some people expressed uncertainty on the franchise’s future after Cone’s departure, Banal is left to wonder how much the doubts have amplified in the minds of his players after their former mentor carved them up with a strong second half of an 81-75 B-Meg victory.

Banal knows the questions all too well.

“Can they win with coach Joel? They know they can win with coach Tim, but can they win with coach Joel?” Banal said Wendsday night after his team blew a 15-point lead.

Banal insisted there’s nothing different about battling Cone and his new team after 22 celebrated years of manning Alaska’s sidelines as the American’s deputy. He mouthed the same line Cone did before the match: It’s just another game.

“B-Meg and coach Tim are on the other side of the fence and so are the other teams, we take them just like the other teams,” explained Banal.

And it’s not like Banal hasn’t done wonders as a replacement before. When he took over as Talk ‘N Text coach, Banal steered the Texters to a scinitillating championship against coach Chot Reyes and the Coca-Cola Tigers for his lone PBA title as head coach.

But even he can spot the difference between that championship and the one he is gunning for as Alaska mentor.

“Before, when I took the Talk N Text job, we had a losing record in the previous conference and we were 5-5 at that point and the players were somewhat needing a savior. And they were all solved out when I took over,” Banal recalled.

“But right now, my situation is different because I’m changing a coach that had a winning tradition,” he added.

Let’s get this straight: Banal is a proven winner. He’s won titles in both amateur and professional levels. In fact, celebrated tycoon-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan probably owes Banal one. The former Mapua and Great Taste star has personally given Pangilinan a double, having steered both Ateneo and Talk ‘N Text to championships.

But look at the guy who has cast a shadow on his spot on the Alaska bench: Cone, a proponent of the triangle offense, collected 13 titles with the Aces including an elusive Grand Slam in 1996.

Banal talked about making adjustments, about working on the projects in his team, guys like Mac Baracael and Jay-R Reyes, reach their potential. He talked about improving the production off the bench since he feels comfortable with the contributions of his starting unit already.

He runs practically the same system, but swears he will allow the talent in his team to freelance a bit. After all, Banal has been Cone’s deputy–understudy even–for the longest time and it will be foolish to drop everything Cone completely from the squad.

But all that talk on the Xs and Os take a back seat to more pressing worries.

“Now, I’m not really investing on the triangle. I’m investing on the team and the players,” he said.

He is caught in a chicken-and-egg crossfire in a tournament that can blow by so fast, failure to adjust immediately could be disastrous.

“I have to win to get the respect,” he admitted.

But he also has to have the respect of his players to win.

“I don’t blame them for that,” Banal said. “But its a very delicate and almost dangerous situation that you’re changing a coach that has been winning.”

“So I hope we can find a connection with them and I hope the players would give me a chance,” he said. “The more difficult thing is getting the support of everyone on the team. A lot of work, a lot of convincing, a lot of proving and hopefully we have time to do that.”

“And even if we win one, I’m not expecting the team to change right away. And I’m here to take the punishment and take the beating. I’m ready for that.”

But he’s asking for concessions, a little leeway. And it’s something that Alaska management, players and staff cannot–must not–deny him. Look beyond the similarities in the system and in the sideline fashion sense; beneath the similar shirt and tie are two very different people.

Two very different coaches.

“The first thing I said to the players and even to the management that first and foremost, is they have to accept, understand and believe and live it that I’m not coach Tim Cone, I’m Joel Banal,” he said. “And unless we can start accepting that, I’m going to have a hard time.”

Give him that and Banal will give back more. He is willing to take on whatever ghosts and demons Cone has left behind. More than that, he’s willing to take on the ghost of Cone himself.

“I’m a competitor, I’m going to compete with his record, with his winning ways and winning tradition. I welcome that challenge,” said Banal.