The Mission Hills High boys basketball team established itself last year as one of North County's top up-and-coming teams, advancing all the way to the CIF San Diego Section Division II championship game and two rounds into the state tournament.

That team graduated all five of its starters, so the Grizzlies will need some of the role players from last year's club to step into leadership positions. No one will play more of a central role than senior point guard Miggy Banas.

Banas will direct the offense for a team that expects to get balanced scoring throughout its lineup, and it will be Banas' responsibility to spread the ball around. According to Mission Hills coach Curtis Hofmeister, Banas is well-suited for the job because of his quick feet and his knack for attacking defenses and finding the open man on the floor.

"He's got to use what he does well to his advantage," Hofmeister said. "What he does well is get into people and use his quickness. In that sense, he's going to be real important to us."

The Grizzlies open the 2008-09 season Wednesday against Hoover in the Eastlake Titan Tipoff Classic.

Q: When did you and your family move from the Philippines to San Marcos?

A: 2003. My mom came here about two years before the rest of us to teach preschool. Then my dad, my two brothers and I came here to be with her.

Q: What do you miss about the Philippines?

A: I miss seeing my grandma, but that's about all that I miss about home.

Q: What was the hardest thing about moving to the United States?

A: Learning the language. I really didn't speak much English at all before we came here, but I picked it up and feel pretty comfortable now.

Q: What do you like most about living here in California?

A: I like going to the beach, and the weather here is a lot like the Philippines. I didn't get to go to the beach much there because we lived in the city.

Q: How popular is basketball in the Philippines, and how long have you been playing?

A: It's the No. 1 sport there. I've been playing for about 14 years. I played soccer for a little bit, but I played mostly basketball growing up there.

Q: What are your expectations for the season?

A: I think we're going to do really good once we have all of our players back from the football team and their season is over.

Q: As the point guard, you're the leader of the offense and the team -- how do you think you'll handle that responsibility?

A: I don't think it will be too tough. I think the most important thing will be to listen to Coach Hofmeister and know what he wants me to do. I'll need to pass the ball around and give my teammates chances to score.

Q: Your team has a lot of talented players. How do you plan to make sure that everyone gets the ball enough?

A: I think everyone knows what their role is, so I think it shouldn't be too hard for me. I'll just distribute the ball, and the other guys will do the rest.

Miggy Banas

School: Mission Hills

Sport: Boys basketball

Position: Point guard

Born: July 23, 1990, Manila, Philippines

Year: Senior

Height: 5-foot-4

Weight: 145 pounds

Quick hits

Favorite food: Steak

Favorite team: Miami Heat

Favorite athlete: Chris Paul

NBA player you'd build a team around: LeBron James

Favorite number: 5 -- "I wear No. 2 because we don't have 5."

Career goal: Nursing

Least favorite chore: Washing dishes

What's playing in your iPod?: Hip hop

Favorite TV show: "That 70s Show"

Favorite movie: "Remember the Titans"