Chris Banchero
| No. 2 – Alaska Aces | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard / Shooting guard |
| League | PBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
January 24, 1989 Seattle, Washington |
| Nationality | Filipino / Italian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | O'Dea (Seattle, Washington) |
| College | Seattle Pacific (2007–2011) |
| PBA draft | 2014 Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall |
| Selected by the Alaska Aces | |
| Playing career | 2012–present |
| Career history | |
| 2012–2013 | San Miguel Beermen |
| 2013–2014 | Boracay Rum Waves |
| 2014–present | Alaska Aces |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Christopher Guerrero Banchero (born January 24, 1989) is an American-born Filipino-Italian professional basketball player for Alaska Aces of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted 5th overall by Alaska in the 2014 PBA draft.
High school and college career
Banchero was a key player for state 3A champion O'Dea High School, where he averaged 15.1 points for the Fighting Irish, who went 25-5. After his senior year in high school, he committed to play for Seattle Pacific University men's basketball program under coach Ryan Looney.
In his junior year at Seattle Pacific, he was named a Division II All-American, after he led the Falcons with a 19.6-point scoring average that was the second-highest figure in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.[1] He also led the team to a GNAC Championship and a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament in 2010, after posting a 13-3 GNAC record to capture its first outright league championship since 2006. During his senior year, He posted phenomenal scoring performances of 42, 38, 34, 33, 31, and 30. He was well on his way to being named the D-II National Player of the Year when his senior season was cut short by an ACL injury in January 2011.
He ended his college career as the No. 8 all-time scorer in SPU history. He graduated with a degree of International Communications in Business.
Professional career
San Miguel Beermen (ABL) (2011–2013)
Banchero was recruited by San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball League after graduating in college. The Philippine team already noticed him while playing for SPU's varsity team and for the Italian team in the professional division. At that time, he was gunning for a career in the NBA, trying out his luck in several teams.
While playing two seasons for the Beermen, he teamed up with Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, June Mar Fajardo, JR Cawaling, and other ex-PBA stars and led the team to the 2013 ABL Championship,[2] defeating the Indonesia Warriors. He was also awarded as the Finals MVP.
Boracay Rum Waves (PBA D-League)
After the ABL season ended in 2013, he set his sights in playing in the PBA. However, PBA rules required Fil-foreign players aged 25 years old or below to play in at least two conferences in the PBA D-League before becoming eligible for the draft.[3] He initially signed a contract with PBA D-League team Blackwater Sports,[4] however, due to a league provision that incoming players must apply through the draft,[5] he ended up being picked top overall and signed to a contract by Boracay Rum Waves.[6] In his D-League debut, he posted an impressive stat line of 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists.[7] His contract with the Tanduay franchise lasted until after the end of the 2014 PBA D-League Foundation Cup.[8]
Alaska Aces (PBA)
After his stint in the D-League, he became eligible for the PBA Draft. During the 2014 PBA draft, he was earlier tipped to go as high as No. 2 in the draft, but some strange twists saw him land at No. 5 overall. He was drafted by Alaska.[9]
On September 9, 2014, he signed a 1-year contract with the Aces.[10] After consecutive finals appearances, Banchero extended [11] his contract for another year in September 2015 in a reported 2.7 million peso deal.
On September 16, 2016, Banchero, again, extended his tenure with the Aces. This time, to a longer three-year deal. Terms were not disclosed. The Fil-Italian cager stated that it was an "easy decision" stating "he is very happy with Alaska." [12] He credited the coaching staff and his team mates as the main reason he stayed with the team and hopes he will finish his career with Alaska.
PBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage |
| 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game |
| PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high | ||
Correct as of September 23, 2016[13]
Season-by-season averages
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Alaska | 58 | 20.2 | .406 | .150 | .657 | 3.3 | 2.2 | .8 | .0 | 7.0 |
| 2015–16 | Alaska | 60 | 22.7 | .459 | .364 | .687 | 3.5 | 2.3 | .9 | .0 | 9.6 |
| Career | 118 | 21.5 | .435 | .283 | .673 | 3.4 | 2.4 | .9 | .0 | 8.3 | |
Personal life
Banchero grew up in a multicultural family. He was born to an Italian father and Filipino mother, the latter Jacqueline Guerrero.[14]
Outside of basketball, he's a product endorser and model, and has also graced local magazine covers and was featured in several newspaper articles. He also dabbles in other sports like golf whenever he has the time.
References
- ↑ "Chris Banchero Gets All-America Accolades". SPUFalcons.com. Seattle Pacific Falcons. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Asi, Banchero power Beermen to ABL crown". The Philippine Star. June 13, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "D-League is likely next step for Banchero on the way to PBA draft". Spin.ph. June 13, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ ""I'm under contract with Blackwater" - Chris Banchero". Spin.ph. September 9, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "No outright Blackwater stint for Banchero". Inquirer.net. August 25, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "From San Miguel star, Banchero becomes hot Tanduay property after signing deal". Spin.ph. September 23, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "D-League not merely a pit stop as Banchero bent on leading Boracay to title". Spin.ph. October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Stint in Europe an option as Chris Banchero plots next move after D-League stint". Spin.ph. March 17, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Top Alaska draftee Chris Banchero gets ready to brush up on 'triangle offense'". Spin.ph. August 24, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Rookie Chris Banchero opts to sign just a one-year deal with Alaska". Spin.ph. September 9, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/chris-banchero-signs-one-year-p2-7m-extension-with-alaska
- ↑ http://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/news/chris-banchero-professes-love-for-alaska-agrees-to-a-new-three-year-deal-with-franchise-
- ↑ Player Profile at PBA-Online!
- ↑ Richard Dy. "Chris Banchero plays down Pringle rivalry as former ABL stars take act to PBA". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 24, 2014.