Played as a Red Lion in his college days,[1] Banal has had extensive head coaching experience in the collegiate and amateur ranks.

He called the shots for the PSBA Jaguars[1] in the late 90s with ex-pro Warren Ybañez as his main man.

From 2000-2004, he was the head coach of the FEU Tamaraws in the UAAP, bannered by future PBA MVP Arwind Santos, Denok Miranda, Mark Isip, Cesar Catli.

Midway through the 2005 NCAA season, he was hired as head coach of his alma mater, San Beda Red Lions,[1] and in 2006, he guided the team to their first championship after 28 years.

[2] Citing differences with the management, he was unceremoniously dumped as head coach of the Red Lions in 2007.