Andre Banate, Finding Greatness

Andre Agassi?

  

No, it’s Andre Banate; One of Ateneo’s most skilled tennis players.

Named after an all-time great Andre Agassi, Andre Banate has had a good number of achievements himself.  When asked about what he has accomplished as a tennis player, he said. “Since grade schooL, I consistently represented Ateneo de Davao in inter-school competitions and won. Also, I consistently represented Region XI in the Palarong Pambansa (3^rd place). Highest PHILTA (Philippine Tennis Association) National Ranking was 3 in the 16-under category. Let me state that again, number 3 in the 16-under category in the whole Philippines. The only thing that can be better than that is ranking 1^st and 2^nd.

With his father as his mentor, he has always been pushed to the fullest of his capability when it comes to the sport tennis. He started playing tennis at the age of 7, and since then there was no looking back for Andre. He finds motivation in the joy he feels when playing the sport and at the same time, he is always inspired by his quest to be one of the best, not like he isn’t already one of them. Although just like any of the great tennis players, Andre still has room for improvement.

When watching him play, having the knowledge about the current tennis players and having the opportunity to watch them on TV would really allow you admire Andre even more that what a normal eye would see. This is because while watching him, it could not go unnoticed that he moves like the great Roger Federer. Federer is the current world number one and he is the greatest tennis player of all-time based on the number of grand slams he has won. 

When asked who his favourite tennis player is, I wasn’t surprised with what he said, “Roger Federer has really been my hero ever since I got hooked in this sport. My childhood hero has got unmatched skills, talent and makes tennis look so easy.” Roger Federer is his hero, and Roger Federer he is. Andre answered my question as if he were talking about himself because he too, has unmatched skills, talent and definitely makes tennis look so simple and easy.

First love last forever? I think not. Well, at least for Andre, this is not the case. His first love was the sport basketball, but his love slowly but surely shifted to the sport tennis, which has proved its love for him as well. Tennis definitely loves Andre back, which is why achieving greatness at such a young age was not that challenging to him.

“I love tennis now because it really became part of my identity as a person. It taught me significant virtues like patience and hardwork .” says Andre. This shows how his life and the sport tennis has made a connection, a connection that allows him not only to be a prodigious tennis player, but a great man as well.