IT will be another day at the office for Chris Banchero as he gets into a Phoenix Super LPG uniform—his job is to make things happen, as what he used to do at Magnolia.
“I make plays, I make things happen on both sides, I am a creator,” Banchero told BusinessMirror on Sunday. “That’s what I bring to the table and that’s what they want me to do, that’s what my new Coach Topex [Robinson] is asking me to do.”
The Hotshots dealt Banchero, 32, to the Fuel Masters in exchange for explosive forward Calvin Abueva. The teams also swapped picks in next month’s Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft.
“That’s what I believe I can do,” said the 6-foot-1 Banchero, who was born to an Italian father and Filipino mother from Isabela.
Asked if his transfer makes Phoenix look better and be a title contender, he quipped: “Yes, of course.”
“Phoenix was already a title contender without my presence. So I believe we can and like I said, they were a few plays away from the Finals [2020 Philippine Cup],” he said. “There are lots of good players over there and coach Topex is a phenomenal coach.”
Banchero averaged 11 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 11 games for Magnolia in the bubble season. He played in the Asean Basketball League in 2012 before being drafted fifth overall by Alaska in 2014.
“I’m a veteran so leadership is one thing I can do. I have been in the league long enough I know the game and I can step into that role,” said Banchero, a former US National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 2 player for Seattle Pacific from 2007 to 2011.
Banchero adds beef to Phoenix’s backcourt primarily manned by Matthew Wright.
“I’m excited to welcome Chris into the team. He is a proven star himself,” Wright said. “I am completely fine with the trade. I wish Calvin the best.”