Air21 started from the bottom...

The Cool Cat cometh

... now they're here.

Following tonight's victory over the injury and drama-challenged San Mig Coffee Mixers, the Air21 Express are on a three game winning streak and have slowly climbed back into playoff contention. Spearheading the cause are monstrous import Michael Dunigan (26 ppt, 15 rpg), sweet-shooting Nino Canaleta (11 points, 4 rebounds) and the return to form of point guard Mike Cortez (10 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg).

As much as we'd like to dismiss tonight's victory over the Mixers as a fluke owing to the latter's 2x PBA MVP James Yap's off-court drama and the injury to point-forward Joe DeVance, we just cannot ignore how efficient and sound the Express has been looking on the floor as of late.

On the prowl

Still COOL like that

When Mike Cortez first took the country by storm as a high-socks wearing, crossover wielding 6"0 point guard for the mighty De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP, expectations of him being the next "great Filipino point guard" became rampant.

Near triple doubles were the norm, as Cortez would make the game look easy for himself and his teammates on a daily (nay, yearly) basis. He would slice into the lane when the opportunity is presented him (finishing with his trademark "jump straight up, ball palmed on his overly extended right arm *hand*, wait for the contact before laying it in" move) or would simply look for his scorers Ren Ren Ritualo and MacMac Cardona on the wings for the easy deuce.

Air21 fails to force sudden death, bows out

Kiiiiiiissss. Sige na. Isa lang.

Despite point guard Mike Cortez eye-popping, DLSU vintage, 21 points, 18 assists and 9 rebounds statline, the Air21 Express failed to force a sudden-death rubber match versus PBA Philippine Cup top seed Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

For a while there, it looked as though the Texters were coasting and sleep walking all throughout the game. They did just enough to keep the game close, the Express did everything to take four to six point leads, but there was just no denying the three-peat seeking Texters. Cortez was taking his rivals to school, from PG flag bearer Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes and even the hapless Pamboy Raymundo.

Into the PBA Philippine Cup Quarters

Too many guns for TNT vs Air21

Talk 'n' Text vs Air21
No matter how great Air21 has looked the previous matches since the acquisition of point laureate Mike Cortez (and the renewed love-fest with coach Franz Pumaren), there is no denying Talk 'n' Text of advancing to the next round. Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes all look healthy (okay, still waiting for Alapag who looks to be hurt in tonight's match vs Ginebra) and then there's Ranidel de Ocampo doing his thing. And if those guys aren't enough, there's still the steady Kelly Williams, Larry Fonacier, Jarred Dillinger and Ali Peek all ready, willing and able to take over. Nino Canaleta's having the time of his life looking like an all star out there, but his 5 minutes of fame will be and are up.

Fearless Forecast: TNT

The Other De Ocampo

The Postman Returns

Just when everyone has dismissed the San Mig Coffee Mixers' Yancy de Ocampo as the irrelevant party of the two siblings playing in the PBA, the former number one overall draft pick flashes his old vintage form to help lead his team to the number 2 spot in the Philippine Cup standings.

And while he no longer dominates the shaded lane like he used to given all the young, abled bodies of today's PBA (read: heavyweight enforcers), De Ocampo stands as the only legit 6"9 skilled big man who has both the touch and handles (sorry June Mar Fajardo fans) in all of Philippine basketball. Credit of course goes to Mixers head coach Tim Cone for getting the most out of his versatile big. Say what you will, but confidence and trust goes a long way in basketball-- specially for a big man who saw his more productive years gone to waste playing back-up to future PBA Hall of Famers Asi Taulava or Eric Menk.

Cool Cat and Coach Franz: Reunited and it feels...

Nilabasan ako
nung napanood ko to sa TV.
Orgasmic.
(Credit to Sir Vic Icasas) 

... so good. Right? Time heals all wounds, even the undisclosed ones it seems. Okay in case you've been living under a rock or is still a young/developing basketball mind, the relationship between Mike Cortez and Air21 Express head coach Franz Pumaren has been plutonic at best.

The year was 2002, and (my beloved kinder-grade-high school Alma Mater) De La Salle University Green Archers were on a tear of the hapless UAAP. Leading the charge was Coach Franz, Cortez, Willie Wilson, Mac Cardona and a wide-eyed Joseph Yeo. They were running right through the competition, Cortez was looking like the best point guard in all of Philippine basketball (yes, including his NCAA, PBL and PBA counterparts). He wasn't scoring as much, but he was big, strong, smart beyond his years and had swag all day (say what you want, but Cortez put the back-arm tattoo on the Philippine map). The guy was a walking triple-double, and with him leading the way the Archers' were looking pretty solid to win a rare-five peat.

The value of role players

Petron needs more guys like Pena

Another day, another mind-boggling loss for the stacked Petron Blaze Boosters this time at the unimaginable hands of the rag-tag Air21 Express. It would've been acceptable had the Boosters lost by a couple of points or on a heart-breaking play, but they were just flat-out embarrassed this afternoon by a team whose most household name is their Coach who did all his winning (at the moment) back on the college level.

Losing 97-76, the Boosters looked more erratic than awful on the court. They were trying to make the extra play, revived by the solo coaching job of one Olsen Racela, guys like Joseph Yeo and Alex Mallari appeared to have that extra pep in their steps. But they were just being outperformed by the Express which has appeared to have hit the lotto by opting to go for a more traditional set-up.

Express needs chemistry

Coach Franz is living on a prayer
(nagdadasal ng isa pang trade)

While Air21 Express head coach Franz Pumaren continues praying to the Lord Almighty for another trade that would help his cause (his team, with new/ returning team manager Lito Alvarez, did so in the off-season but Coach Franz might not want to push his luck now), we argue that it's not about getting another contributor-- but actually developing on court team chemistry. At the moment, the cellar-dwelling Express look like a bunch of "2nd chance getters" who are looking to pad their stats (think of it as a paid tryout for other teams) rather than to win games.

Wynne Arboleda, John Wilson, Bitoy Omolon, Mark Isip and Yousef Taha. After that there's Bonbon Custodio, Nonoy Baclao and Rob Reyes. The buck stops there. Nothing (or no one) more, and nothing less. Ok, fine, we'll show love to Nino Canaleta but only because he's been drilling threes (still not playing defense though).

Back to Bombing for Wilson

Superstars call for chest-to-betlog defense

Though his newfound home, the Air21 Express, have lost two of their last three games of the young season, John Wilson is looking more and more like the biggest steal of all with three straight sterling performances.

Right now the former Jose Rizal University ace Heavy Bomber and Barangay Ginebra defensive specialist is averaging a solid 18 ppg, 5 rpg and 4 apg. Good enough to earn him the Express' starting SG spot, supplanting Coach Franz Pumaren's favorite Ren-Ren Ritualo.

Ilang tulog na lang...

Kahit si Doug Kramer may Tiu-fever

The Philippine Basketball Association is all set to open shop this coming Sunday with souped-up crowd-darlings Barangay Ginebra San Miguel versus the retooled GlobalPort Batang Pier serving as the Philippine Cup's official opening combatants.

We should expect a slam bang affair, nothing short of a bonafide shootout with reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa, former MVP Jayjay Helterbrand and the bevy of athletic wings they brought in going up against an odd yet exciting pair of high-scoring Gary David and another former MVP Willie Miller.

Here's KKS' top storyline picks for each team.

The Air21 Rebuilding Project

Forget Baclao. If Air21 lands Wilson,
they'll get Gary David 2.0-- with more defense.

Following last season's embarrassing performance, which is expected of such a young team, the Air21 Express set their sights on rebuilding the roster in order to make a dent in the PBA. Laughable as that may seem, since Management's best interest has always been on making profit off trades, let's give the Franz Pumaren-coached squad the benefit of the doubt.

Now this is all according to newsreports (and some rumors) since the trade hasn't received the nod of PBA Commissioner Chito Salud so everything is still up in the air. What we do know at the moment is that the team isn't high on Elmer Espiritu, Paolo Hubalde, Magi Sison, Eric Salamat and nuisance Ogie Menor. Chances are, these guys will be sent elsewhere or have their contracts left to expire.

Lito Alvarez: Hari ng Padala

With Alvarez back on board, no one's safe.
The guy managed to trade all the household names
in this picture for nothing.

Just for the sake of parity and respect, this writer won't even bother with returning Air21 Express team governor Lito Alvarez' non-basketball (read: political) interests and ventures. Let's just stick to how we fans know him: someone who'd trade his own mother if it meant making more money and getting future picks (which in turn will end up being traded, again, for money) all at the cost of his team being remotely decent.

Mikee wants in; NOW

omero: All he does is WIN

Mikee Romero, he of the famed Harbour Centre Batang Piersquad that rummaged through the Philippine Basketball League so much so thatteams gave up altogether and abandoned ship in favor of winning elsewhere, is bent on breaking into the next frontier—the Philippine Basketball Association.

If ever, this would be Romero’s 2^nd PBA salvo following a brief partnership with Air21 Express which was christened the Burger King Titans for may be a conference and a half before plans went kaput. Now, the champion and rising sportsman is reportedly bent on entering the pros by any means necessary. If he needs to buy a new, 11^th PBA franchise, then game on. If there’s a team that’s on its way out (read: Powerade), then give Romero a call. There’s no B.S. surrounding it, and Romero surely doesn’t need the added exposure much like the San Miguel and MVP teams for his day job—the man is all about competition with basketball being one of his first loves.

Enough is enough

Menor needs to go back
to being the star he once was 

It seems like the only time that Coach Franz Pumaren and his young Air21 Express ever make the news is when Ogie Menor makes an ass of himself on the hardcourt and gets on someone's nerves.

Yesterday's incident involving the Meralco Bolts' Mario West should serve as notice to the PBA's Commissioner's Office and whichever games/ sports body the league reports to as a whole. Granted, the foul Menor committed wasn't really "up there" with his best "hits" but the intention was rather clear. He wanted to take all of his frustrations out on the high scoring former NBA recruit. The foul would've been forgivable had it been done in a hotly contested, too close for comfort game-- but no, they were on the receiving end of yet another ass-whooping and Menor pretty much wanted to make something of it.

B-Meg's new groove

Yancy is REMINDING EVERYONE that
there are TWO dominant De Ocampo's
in the PBA today

Apologies for the 2-week hiatus, had to put all of my attention on something that could ultimately lead me to greater things-- professionally. But now that it's over, let the good times continue rolling and let's get right down to business.

Air 21 versus B-Meg in a meaningful out-of-town game that was close early before the Llamados regrouped in halftime and came out on a mission. While the story of the game was clearly between the awesome duel of imports Marqus Blakely (BMeg) and Zach Graham (Air21) who both treated fans to a brilliant case study on the difference between all-around players versus clutch gene scorers, it's always more fun to dig deeper.

Air21 Express: On the right track

Bet money that RJ's
taking over for Ren-Ren

With yesterday's 103-87 smashing at the hands of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, the Air21 Express have dutifully been eliminated from contention in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. Still, the young franchise was able to salvage a respectable 3-6 win-loss slate, a vast improvement over their abysmal and forgetful Philippine Cup debut.

Granted, much of the improvements should be credited to 6"11 import Marcus Douthit and new recruits Bitoy Omolon and Mark Isip. All three brought that rare championship air that only the coaching staff led by Franz Pumaren and aging veteran ren-Ren Ritualo could really relate to. Their starters from the Philippine Cup: RJ Jazul, James Sena, Paolo Hubalde and Magi Sison are all amateur upstarts at best while champion San Beda alumni Pong Escobal and Ogie Menor were simply fortunate enough to have played alongside a powerhouse collegiate import in Sam Ekwe (wonder where he is now).

The Adventures of Super Bitoy continues

Super Bitoy: Proof that hard work pays off

Four games into the Commissioner's Cup and Air21's small forward Nelbert "Bitoy" Omolon is starting to turn heads with a couple of solid performances. Granted, his numbers took a hit in losses versus Petron and Bmeg after a sterling debut against Barako Bull, but Omolon quickly turned things around by leading the Express to a surprising 89-78 victory over the lethargic defending champions, Talk 'n' Text.

Being a long time Santa Lucia fan, seeing Omolon follow in the successful steps of ex-Realtors Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes of Talk 'n' Text and Joseph Yeo and Denok Miranda (who has established himself as the Wyne Arboleda of this generation) of Petron is a joy to hear. Not only is one of the more solid contributors of Santa Lucia's last title squad playing big minutes, but he is now enjoying time in the limelight after years of hard work and adjusting his game to fit the PBA style of play.

Time to shine for ex-Realtors/ Bolts

Playing time at last for Isip and Bitoy

Someone tell the chinky-eyed beauty Ms. Sheila Lina that it’s okay now, she can finally jump for joy, exchange pleasantries and high fives as her team, the Air21 Express (former Shopinas.Com), has finally salvaged a victory in its young PBA career.

Thanks largely to the “mana from heaven,” known in these circles as being awarded the rights to 6”11 import Marcus Douthit, the Express won over sister team Barako Bull Energy, 97-88. But at the same breath, credit should also be given the Express’ new recruits—underrated forwards Nelbert “Bitoy” Omolon and Mark Isip who last saw meaningful action with this writer’s old love, the Santa Lucia Realtors (once Team MVP took over and overhauled the line-up, Omolon was under utilized by coach Ryan Gregorio while Isip bounced around the league like a modern day Chris Bolado).

Back in the fold (?)

It's been a busy off-season for the PBA these past few days, headlined of course by the great Kerby Raymundo and Dylan Ababou to Ginebra trade that sent JC Intal to B-Meg and Ronald Tubid and Reil Cervantes to Barako Bull, followed by Meralco's pick-up of Paul Artadi for Chico Lanete and Air21's (formerly Shopinas.Com) shoring-up defensively with the acquisition of Bitoy Omolon and Mark Isip.

Big Daddy Douthit to provide Air21 with veteran
savvy, championship poise and muscle

There's also the impending return of naturalized center and SMART Gilas standout Marcus Douthit, who will suit up mid-February with Air21which hopefully increases the team's chances to secure a victory in their young team's history. Right now, all Air21 really needs is a pass-first point guard who will utilize a projected line-up of RJ Jazul, Omolon, Isip and Douthit with promising frontliners Magi Sison and Elmer Espiritu ready to come off the bench. Pong Escobal has always been a favorite, but his speed has become an issue in the pros.

Either way, their chances have definitely increased and things are looking up for the Lina franchise.

But all that has been trumped by the reported re-acquisition of the Powerade franchise by San Miguel Corporation which could very well hurt the PBA on all fronts. Granted, SMC and Powerade has denied it, dismissing the news as a "non-issue," but as the old adage goes, "if there's smoke, there's sure to be fire."

There has been reports that a "super rookie" from the Powerade camp is being offered for a trade, which in turn might start a domino effect. Much like how Santa Lucia made sure to make a lot of money out of its championship roster before selling to Team MVP (instead of simply holding on to the players like Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Joseph Yeo and Denok Miranda).

On a positive note, Gary David received a 3-year extension worth the max contract of P 420,000 a month-- and rightfully so. If the Powerade sale does go through, let's all pray that the Bataan Bomber goes to a title-worthy team and not be left behind as he always does.

With the success and fame being enjoyed by the league, its teams and players, what it doesn't need is a PR hit (4th SMC team in a league that already features 2 teams each for MVP and the Linas). Perhaps the PBA can look into another franchise from the amateurs to make the leap into the pros? Invitational style?

Trade talks and other things

Intal needs to recapture his UAAP MVP contender form

JC Intal (Ginebra) to BMeg
Noli Eala went on Twitter to say that this was purely BMeg head coach Tim Cone's call, who then explained his choice by saying that Intal would/ could blossom into the "Scottie Pippen" to James Yap's "Michael Jordan" much like the relationship between Powerade's Gary David and Marcio Lassiter. Our only concern is that Intal has yet to really find his niche in the PBA. As athletic as he is on the hardcourt, Intal has never been a lockdown defender AND an option to shoot with any consistency. He'll undoubtedly blossom under Cone's coaching, but not enough to displace PJ Simon as J. Yap's chief buddy come crunch time (shorter, but better scoring option).

Kerby Raymundo (BMeg), Dylan Ababou (Barako Bull) to Ginebra
When you are on the receiving end of the best players in any trade, then you're bound to be on the winning end of things. Raymundo's a proven high post player, arguably the best off the dribble among big men. Then there's Ababou, who will undoubtedly be Ginebra's key small forward for the future. While Intal had a hard time adjusting because he had to play a support role to Ginebra's stars after being "the man" in college with Ateneo, Ababou is the exact opposite. He can score and has the PBA size, but he also knows how to play without the basketball. This trade also sets up a taller Ginebra future scoring duo to probably replace The Fast and The Furious (who are in the 30s) together with UST and Barako Bull teammate Allein Maliksi. People are hyping the two rooks as the "Espana Express" this early, hopefully, Coach Siot lets them play instead of burying them on the bench (as he always does with rookies).

Ronald Tubid, Reil Cervantes (Ginebra) to Barako Bull
The Gin Kings had to let go of Tubid to appease Commissioner Chito Salud and have the trade push through. We say it's time to let Tubid go, not with Caguioa bent on reclaiming his throne as the league's best shooting guard (a title that rightfully belongs to Gary David-- for now), while Maliksi waits in the wings for his turn at glory. They also have the ever-improving John Wilson who not only has the balls to take big shots, but plays lockdown defense as well. With Barako, Tubid forms a great/ awesome First Five with Willie Miller, Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena and Mick Pennisi. As for Cervantes, he shows a lot of spunk and fight when given minutes-- he'll have them at Barako.

Omolon brings credible perimeter defense
to a soft Air21 roster (Ogie Menor is a joke)

Nelbert Omolon, Mark Isip (Meralco) to Air21
Other than Meralco assistant Boyet Fernandez, the last remnants of the old Santa Lucia Realtors' champion team have been shipped out-- for the better. At Air21, both guys are a lock to start. Omolon goes back to his natural small forward spot while Isip provides the inside toughness and maturity that Air21 frontliner Magi Sison still lacks.

Dennis Daa, Mark Canlas (Air21) to Meralco
Daa's a serviceable big, but why take on Canlas?

Hopefully, more trades go down to create an even more interesting Commissioner's Cup. There are talks that a big time, big named trade is in the offing. There's also talk that a PBA team is on the verge of folding and may be replaced by a team from the amateurs.

Oh, and yes, we all would like to see Marcus Douthit strut his stuff in the PBA once again. But why with Air21? We'd rather see him with Powerade, if only to have him play side by side with JVee Casio and Lassiter-- oh, and to help the Bataan Bomber win a title this year.