A “NEW-LOOK” Air21 intends to create a dent in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference.
Beefed up by American Keena Young, the Express are dead set to make the finals of the import-laden tournament, a goal they intend to achieve with their new acquisitions. The Express made the conference finals only to lose to Barangay Ginebra in a classic seven-game duel two years ago.
Air21 head coach Yeng Guiao is upbeat with the talent he has available and the skills Young, a Brigham Young University product, can bring to the team.
“I think we have the necessary ingredient to again contend for the championship,” said Guiao on Monday, as members of the teams were formally introduced at the Burger King branch at Glorietta in Makati City.
“We have upgraded the talent from the last conference. The determination is now there and we have good chemistry. We are really looking forward to the tournament,” he added.
The team entered the PBA in 2002 as FedEx Express. After three seasons, it changed its brand name to Air21. In 2009 the team was called Burger King, the name it carried until the recent Philippine Cup.
Air21 chairman Bert Lina and wife Sylvia Lina, and team manager and current PBA board chairman Lito Alvarez were also present in the event
“There’s no other way but the championship,” Sylvia Lina addressed Guiao. “We have the cream of the crop and we’re very excited to have them in this team.”
The Express are parading returnees Renren Ritualo, Mike Cortez, Richard Alvarez and Doug Kramer, who all came in via separate deals with Talk ’N Text and Barangay Ginebra.
Wynnie Arboleda, who is serving a full-season ban for attacking a fan earlier in the season, was also introduced by the event’s host. Arboleda is all set to appeal his case to the Commissioner’s Office on Thursday.
“What was lacking last conference is our point guard spot na iniwan ni Wynnie, that’s why it necessitated us to get a top class point guard like Mike,” said Guiao.
“And the other weakness we had in the previous tournament was our outside shooting, but now with Renren, I think we will be fine,” he added.
The former national team mentor, however, said their campaign would also depend largely on how Young will be able to quickly adjust to the Express system, which includes his blending with the locals.
But the fiery coach admitted he is satisfied with what Young has been displaying so far.
“He’s not flashy but very effective, and shoots with a higher percentage,” said Guiao. “What I’ll be asking from him now is to work on both ends of the court. We don’t need him to score more than 30 points every night. He must be the steady factor for the team.”
The Express used to have Shawn Daniels as import but Guiao said Young is the kind of reinforcement the team needs to be able to run and defend well against the prolific imports of the other teams like Gabe Freeman of San Miguel Beer, which they will face on Wednesday. Daniels is now with Talk ’N Text.
Guiao is now on his second year with the Lina franchise and has become more optimistic than ever.
“I won my first title in my second year with Swift. With Red Bull, it was also in my second year when I won the title. Hopefully the trend will continue,” he said.
Meanwhile, Arboleda has already secured the signatures of the team captains of the 10 PBA teams who expressed their support to the beleaguered player.
“Sana makalaro ulit ako this conference kaya sana mapagbigyan ni commissioner [Sonny Barrios] ang appeal ko,” the 32-year-old Arboleda said.
The appeal, which bears the signatures of the team captains, will be given to Barrios on Thursday. Barrios said will study Arboleda’s appeal once he receives the letter.
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