Air21's Farm Team Problems

Tonichi Yturri does not approve.
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

Air21 Express head coach Franz Pumaren is in a bind.

And not only because his team is currently (as always) at the cellar with a sad 1-4 slate with the only silver lining is a looming trade that will reunite him with his college star (Joseph Yeo) who hasn't really been making any waves in the pros the last three years.

Pumaren is in a bind because he only has two players, Mike Cortez (10,3,4) and Nino Canaleta (16,5) who are borderline PBA contender team rotation players. The rest are either too young, too old or just not good enough to win games despite the system.

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.

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).

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.

A matter of pride

Miller: too good not
to play for a title

The Barako Bull Energy continue to win behind its veteran superstar cast bannered by National team standouts Willie Miller, Mick Pennisi, Danny Seigle and Wyne Arboleda. There are also other stellar names such as Ronald Tubid, Dorian Pena and Don Allado who are putting in the work all for the same cause.

To win.

But we've seen this movie before. Different title but with the same script, cast and major players. We know where this is going, and chances are, it will never end with a title for any of the players currently making strides in the PBA. One (or two) will be traded back to a powerhouse squad where he rightfully belongs. The rest would be milked until they are able to reach that same level, and sent off to the highest bidder.