J.C. Intal

John Christopher A. Intal (born November 18, 1983 in Quezon City, Philippines), better known as J.C. Intal, is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Barako Bull Energy of the Philippine Basketball Association. He is married to television host and model Bianca Gonzalez.

Early Life and College Career

Intal initially studied at Claret School of Quezon City before he transferred to Letran where he became a part of the Letran Squires high school varsity team. After his high school days, he tried out for the for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.^[2] While playing for the Blue Eagles, he was placed in the Team B and upon his second year in college he became a member of Team A. He was the part of the team that won its first UAAP Senior's Basketball Championship in 2002. He ended his college career in 2006 with a loss to the UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP Finals in that same year.^[3]

While in college, he played amateur basketball for the Harbour Centre Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball League, where he became known for his high-flying abilities, thus earning the nickname The Rocket, having won the Slam Dunk contest in 2003.

Professional career

Intal was drafted 4th overall by the Air21 Express in the 2007 PBA draft. In 2009, he was acquired by Barangay Ginebra Kings via a blockbuster three-team trade.^[4] In three seasons with the Kings, he was a reliable role player, complimenting with leading scorers Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk. After three seasons with Ginebra, he was again traded to B-Meg (now San Mig Cofee) via a blockbuster three team trade in exchange for Kerby Raymundo and Dylan Ababou.^[5] While playing for San Mig, he suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee, causing him to miss basketball action for four months in 2012. Before he could return to full health, he came back into active play, but was never fully healthy, by which his left knee became swollen after every game.^[6] He was traded again, this time to Barako Bull^[7] via a blockbuster 10-man, 5-team trade in January 2013. He's been playing with Barako Bull since then, and has become one of the team's reliable veterans. He has also posted career highs in scoring, field goal and free throw percentage, and minutes played.

Personal life

Intal was engaged to TV host Bianca Gonzalez,^[8] his girlfriend since 2011. On March 20, 2014, he proposed to Gonzalez at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, as the latter was about to depart for London.^[9] Intal's parents and couple Cheska Garcia and Doug Kramer were among those who witnessed the proposal.^[10] Intal and Gonzalez married on December 4, 2014 in El Nido, Palawan.^[11] In April 2015, television host Boy Abunda announced on his program Aquino & Abunda Tonight that Gonzalez and Intel expecting their first child.^[12]

PBA Career Statistics

Accurate as of March 16, 2014^[13]

References