Arboleda starts signature drive in PBA return bid

Banned Air21 guard Wynne Arboleda is hoping the captains of the 10 participating teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) would support his signature drive so he could play in the coming Fiesta Cup.

Arboleda, the Air21 team captain who is seeking to get a second chance in his basketball career, was suspended for the rest of the season after attacking a heckling fan last year.

The Express’ stocky 5-foot-9 playmaker already collected four signatures as of press time with Alaska’s Jeffrey Cariaso, Jimmy Alapag of Talk ‘N Text, Asi Taulava of Coca-Cola and Air21 assistant captain Carlo Sharma threw in their support.

Arbolda expects other team captains to support his bid of asking the PBA board to lift his season-long ban and allow him to play in the import-laced Fiesta Conference.

“Medyo kumikilos tayo ng kaunti at humihingi ng tulong sa kapwa natin team captains na payagan na tayong lumaro," Arboleda told GMANews.TV. “Sa palagay ko, sapat na yung naranasan ko na penalty."

“So far, nakaka-tatlo pa lang kami. But I’m confident na makakakuha pa kami ng pirma from other team captains."

Arboleda’s name was included in the Air21 line-up that was submitted to the PBA office. His inclusion fueled speculations that he might be reinstated anytime and could suit up for the Express in the Fiesta Cup.

PBA chairman and Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez said the reason for Arboleda’s inclusion doesn’t mean the four-time All-Defensive Team member is now allowed to play.

Alvarez added they cannot replace Arboleda’s spot as teams are prohibited to replace a suspended player.

“And even if nilagay namin siya sa lineup, may open and close parenthesis doon which states suspended. It is also one way of thinking positive na baka we can persuade commissioner Sonny Barrios to reinstate him. We feel enough na rin yung penalty na naibigay sa kanya."

Barrios wasn’t surprised to see Arboleda’s name in the lineup.

“It’s short of saying Air21 wants to have a positive outlook," said Barrios. “There’s nothing wrong with that."

But Barrios clarified he hasn’t received any formal letter from Arboleda’s camp seeking for the lifting of his suspension.

“The truth is, I have yet to receive any letter from them," said Barrios. “But if they’re gathering signatures from the team captains, I assume na isasabay na nila dyan yung letter or wait and see if they can get more signatures."

“Parang gaya ng sa mga tatakbo na gumawa ng signature campaign. They want to know first if they can get more signatures before they run."

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Barako maintains move to appoint Baculi legit; Air21 changes import

MANILA, Philippines - Barako Bull maintains its appointment of Junel Baculi as the team’s new head coach is completely aboveboard.

Meanwhile, Air21 enlisted former Brigham Young University standout Keena Young to replace original import choice LeRoy Hickerson who injured his elbow in a car accident.

Barako team owner George Chua made the assurance to PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios Thursday amidst fears from some quarters of possible violation by the ball club on the condition set by the league board allowing Harbour Centre’s entry as team sponsor.

“Mr. George Chua has called giving their commitment on strict compliance of the provision. He also assured us he’s still on top of the situation in running the affairs of the team,” Barrios told The STAR.

The league commissioner said it’s well and good since “the expectation of the board is for the two parties (Barako Bull and Harbour Centre) to take to heart the condition given them.”


Under the provision approved by the board, Harbour Centre will have no involvement in the team outside of placement of brand name in team uniform.

Harbour Centre is prohibited from “fielding any known Harbour Centre personalities in the team management, coaching staff personnel and the likes.”

Baculi had previous involvement with Harbour Centre, working as team consultant in its PBL stint and calling the shots for the Harbour Centre-RP team in a number of international competitions.

The former Mapua player, however, was no longer connected with Harbour Centre, but with Air21, prior to his appointment as Barako Bull coach.

He was an assistant to BK coach Yeng Guiao in the last Philippine Cup.

In another development, Guiao and the Express have lost the slam-dunking Hickerson to injury he suffered in Kentucky. He flew home for a brief rest after helping Air21 to a second-place finish in a recent Dubai invitational tourney.

Air21 tapped Young for Hickerson instead.

Young starred for BYU from 2004-2007. Before this, Young was a four-year letterman at Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas. He was named All-Region three times and All-State twice.

As a senior, he averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game with his team winning the Texas State championship and earning a Top 10 national ranking.

Young was a high school teammate and friend of Kendrick Perkins. University of Memphis coach John Calipari offered scholarships to both Perkins and Young. Both players initially committed to play at Memphis, but Perkins changed his mind and entered the 2003 NBA Draft.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

Air21 ships Yancy to Ginebra for Alvarez, Kramer

Air21, a team always busy on shipping one player to another, will have a reunion of Ateneo and La Salle players on its team for the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference.

The Express got half of the job done when they dealt recently-acquired 6’9 center Yancy de Ocampo and their second-round draft pick in next season’s Rookie Draftto the Ginebra Gin Kings in exchange for 2004-05 Rookie of the Year Rich Alvarez and bruising forward Doug Kramer.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, in a text message to GMANews.TV, confirmed the news.

“It’s for finalization, but I don’t know if it’s already been approved," said Uichico.

Air21 team manager and PBA chairman Lito Alvarez said it’s already agreed in principle and welcomed this new development for his team.

Alvarez said it was coach Yeng Guiao who convinced him to get Alvarez as he is more “familiar in utilizing the player’s potential."

“Coach Yeng said he wants Rich’s work ethic," said the Air21PBA board representative in a telephone interview. “Coach Yeng thinks Rich wasn’t given enough playing time with his former teams."

Alvarez played for Guiao when the fiery mentor was still coaching Barako Bull (formerly Red Bull Barakos).

Trades between the 10 participating teams are expected to intensify before the start of the import-laced Fiesta Conference on March 21.

Cabagnot-Cortez trade in the works
While Ateneans Alvarez, Gonzales and Kramer had found themselves altogether again, two former members of the La Salle Green Archers’ champion squad are anticipating the possible acquisition of their ex-teammate – Mike Cortez.

Cortez, who won championships with La Salle, will most likely join Ren-Ren Ritualo and Carlo Sharma with the Express.

A trade between Cortez and talented lefty point guard Alex Cabagnot is being worked out now by Air21 and San Miguel.

Cabagnot was traded by Coca-Cola to the Express along with Gonzales for Gary David and Chico Lanete. If plans push through, Cabagnot will be dealt to his fourth team in the last five years and might join a Beermen squad loaded with guards.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Cortez, Alvarez, Kramer to Air21; Gins get Yancy

MANILA, Philippines - Air21 is about to close separate trade deals with Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, making its core lineup a mix of Ateneans and La Sallites with new acquisitions in Mike Cortez, Rich Alvarez and Doug Kramer.

The Lina Group ball club is to get Cortez from San Miguel for Alex Cabagnot and acquire Alvarez and Kramer from Ginebra for Yancy de Ocampo.

Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez said he’s likely to close the deals with the SMC group by tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Alaska coach Tim Cone said they have signed up Diamon Simpson as their import for the coming PBA Fiesta Conference.

Simpson, a product of Saint Mary’s U who’s fresh from a stint with the LA Defenders in the NBA D-League, arrives in the country today.


Alvarez resumed negotiation with the SMC management for their transactions upon their return from Dubai where the Air21 Express finished third in a four-team invitational tourney also featuring the Coca-Cola Tigers.

Alvarez said import Leroy Hickerson made good impression in the tourney where they placed second behind the UAE national team.

“The import we’ve got and the new players we’re about to get make me really excited about the coming tourney,” said Alvarez.

“Doug (Kramer) has played for us and I like his work ethic. I also like Rich Alvarez. The two are college teammates,” Alvarez added.

Kramer and Alvarez will be reunited in a team where they will be allied with former varsity rivals Cortez and Renren Ritualo. Air21 gave up De Ocampo without a single official game since his recent transfer from Talk n Text.

The 6-foot-9 De Ocampo was part of the Air21-Talk n Text trade also involving Renren Ritualo, JR Quinahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban.

“Definitely, Renren Ritualo will stay with us. Renren and Ronjay Buenafe will be our main men at off-guard spot,” said Alvarez.

Cabagnot, meanwhile, was able to play a few games with Burger King (now Air21) before finding himself being traded once again.

San Miguel will be Cabagnot’s fourth team after Sta. Lucia, Coca-Cola and Burger King.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

Air21 takes 2nd place in Dubai caging

Dubai – Air21 (formerly Burger King) demolished Al Nasr Club 84-73 to capture second place honors in the 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Basketball Tournament Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).

The Express led the entire match, opening the game with a 5-0 lead and erecting a commanding 17-point advantage with still eight minutes to go in the second quarter.

Al Nasr tried to wrestle the lead with their lethal outside shooting, especially in the middle of the second when Talal Mesabah unleashed three consecutive triples.

But Michael Vincent Belga answered with a couple of 3-point shots to keep Air21 on top, 49-41, going into the third quarter.

The physicality of the game was so intense that Wesley Gonzales and Al Nasr Club’s American import Vincent Jones had a brief scuffle in the third period. They were both thrown out of the game to avoid more tension.

With the 6’11" Al Nasr import out of the match, Air21 took advantage by attacking the shaded lane.

Veteran Saleh Sultan took the cudgels for Al Nasr with his outside shooting and daredevil inside penetration but the big men and backcourt generals of Air21 proved too much for the host team. Air21 had a comfortable 17-point lead in the final two minutes of the game.

“We were able to execute our plays well, unlike in our first game where we still had jet lag," Air21 coach Yeng Guiao said. “Were the officiating fair in our first game, we could have emerged as champions."

Guiao was referring to Express’ 77-80 opening-game loss to the United Arab Emirates National Team, which eventually emerged as champions of the three-day invitational meet.

Air 21 guard Alex Cabagnot was awarded the best playmaker of the tournament participated in by two teams from the Philippine Basketball Association and two squads from the UAE.

In the other game, Coca-Cola bowed to the UAE National Team, 97-89, as the Tigers became the only team without a victory, having lost to Al Nasr and Air21 in their previous matches.

Despite the setbacks, Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol said the invitational tournament provided a good training ground for the team in the coming import-laden PBA Fiesta Cup.

“More than the game, it’s the bonding and preparation for the team," Perasol said.

Both Coca-Cola and Air21 utilized an all-Filipino line-up in the Dubai tournament.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Air21, Coca-Cola drop opening day assignments in Dubai

Dubai, UAE – Bad officiating and jet lag were the reasons why Air21 and Coca-Cola dropped their opening day assignments at the start of the 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Basketball Tournament Thursday at the Al Nasr Sports Club in Oud Metha.

The Express suffered an 80-77 defeat against the UAE National Team while the Tigers were dominated the entire game by Al Nasr Club, 72-55.

Air21 players complained that the referees’ calls are all one-sided since the UAE National Team was very physical with their game where they even received kicks and flying elbows from some of the players.

The Express’ Willie Arboleda received a second motion kick in the face from a member of the UAE National team when both of them fell on the floor while battling for the lose ball.

Air 21 was leading by much as five points going in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter when another UAE player challenged the entire Express bench that changed the momentum of the game.

Police and officials from the Al Nasr Club immediately responded to the situation but the player was not easily pacified as Air21 just kept their cool.

“We were surprised to see that even though team managers from Al Nasr Club already intervened, the man did not back down. Anyway, this is just a basketball game and we don’t mind those kinds of rough plays," said Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez.

In another game, 6-foot-11 American import Vincent Jones and Al Nasr’s outside shooting were too much for Coca-Cola to handle as the Tigers played sluggishly due to jet lag.

The Tigers arrived in Dubai less than a day before the game and the match started at 9:30 pm which was actually 1:30 am (Friday), Manila time.

Coca-Cola played catch up the entire match but three straight three-pointers in the third quarter gave Al Nasr a 15-point spread and the hosts were never threatened after that.

Jones also dominated the paint both offensively and defensively and had six block shots, two of which came at the expense of Asi Taulava. Jones also won the slam dunk contest

Tigers coach Bo Perasol said they were not able to execute their plays as his players were feeling the jet lag.

Meanwhile, Al Nasr Club coach Tarek Selim announced that he is planning to hold a 10-day basketball camp in the Philippines next month to expose his team to more international competitions and to learn more from Philippine basketball.

Games on Friday (March 5) Al Nasr vs. UAE National Team (7 pm Dubai time/ 11 pm Manila time) and Burger King vs. Coca-Cola (9pm); Saturday (March 6) UAE National Team vs. Coca Cola (7pm Dubai time/ 11 pm Manila time); Al Nasr vs. Burger King (9 pm).

Source: Angel Tesorero  | GMANews.TV

Coca-Cola, Air21 see action in Dubai tourney

DUBAI – Two more Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams – the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Air21 Express (formerly Burger King Whopper) – will try to test UAE’s top two cage squads when the 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum International Basketball Tournament opens on March 4 at the Al Nasr Sports Club in Oud Metha.

The Tigers and Express hope to duplicate, if not surpass, Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas’ third place finish in the 21st Dubai International Basketball Championship last January.

The 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum International Basketball Tournament ends on Saturday, March 6.

Speaking highly of Philippine basketball, Naji Aljabri, CEO of New Generation Sport Marketing Event and organizer of the tournament, said he wants to test the mettle of his UAE National Team and Al Nasr Club against PBA teams.

Aljabri considers the PBA as one of the most organized and prestigious basketball leagues in the world next to NBA (National Basketball Association) and the Euro League.

“I want to bring the same professional experience and game intensity of the PBA in the UAE and also to provide entertainment to the Filipino expats who are known basketball fans," said Aljabri.

He said his teams are young but with huge potential, strong and determined to become the best in the Middle East and North Africa region.

UAE National team is composed of all local players while Al Nasr Club is led by American import Vincent Jones, who at 6-foot-11 is a dominant inside player, supported by Talal Salem, Talal, Musabah, Khalid Obaid, Ibrahim Obaid, Saleh Sultan and Salem Obaid.

Scheduled games are UAE National Team vs. Burger King (7 pm Dubai time; 11pm Manila time) followed by Al Nasr vs. Coca-Cola (9 pm Dubai time) on March 4 (Thursday); Al Nasr vs. UAE National Team (7 pm) and Burger King vs. Coca-Cola on March 5 (Friday); and UAE National Team vs. Coca Cola (7pm) and Al Nasr vs. Burger King (9 pm) on March 6 (Saturday).

The three-day tournament named after the deputy ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the UAE, will follow FIBA rules and a one-round elimination series format. Three foreign players can be included in the line-up but only two will be allowed to play at the same time.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

5-player deal sends Yancy, Renren back to Air21

MANILA, Philippines - Air21 and Talk n Text closed a trade deal involving five players as soon as the PBA board, in a meeting yesterday, lifted the trade restrictions between the two teams.

Yancy de Ocampo and Renren Ritualo, FedEx’s prized draft acquisitions in 2002, rejoined the original team while JR Quinahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban went to Talk n Text.

This developed as the Lina Group decided to field back Air21 in favor of Burger King, a food chain partly owned by Talk n Text top bossman Manny Pangilinan.

Air21 and Talk n Text, thus, have been re-classified as two teams independent from one another.

De Ocampo and Ritualo, the No. 1 and No. 8 picks in the 2002 Rookie Draft, moved back to Air21 after helping Talk n Text win a second championship in the Philippine Cup last year.


De Ocampo, a 6-foot-8 center out of St. Francis of Assisi College, played five seasons with Talk n Text, having his most productive year in the 2006-07 campaign where he averaged 9.4 points a game.

Ritualo, meanwhile, had been with Talk n Text in the last four and a half seasons. He’d been TnT’s biggest outside threat until the arrival of former La Salle teammate Macmac Cardona.

Talk n Text gave up De Ocampo and Ritualo in exchange for Quinahan, Yee and Aban who are all young hard-nosed players.

Yee, an acquisition from Liga Pilipinas becoming the first player ever from San Sebastian-Cavite to make the PBA, is only in his second year in the majors.

Quinahan, from University of Visayas, is a third-year pro while Aban, from Letran, is in his fourth year.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

Air21 shoots for lifting of trade ban with Texters

Air21 (formerly Burger King) has requested the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) board to lift the trade restriction on the Express and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters since both teams are considered as sister squads.

The Express carried the Burger King name when it competed in the Philippine Cup where they only managed to enter the wildcard phase of the season-opening tournament. Both are owned by the Lina Group of Companies of businessman/sportsman Bert Lina.

Aside from Lina, Burger King is co-owned by several stakeholders that include PBA chairman and Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez, Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas of Smart Communications, and Wilson Young of Basic Holdings Corporation.

Pangilinan owns the Tropang Texters with Vargas sitting as the PBA board representative.

The PBA prevents sister teams to directly trade to each other to maintain fair play so they won’t monopolize the talented players within their ranks. That’s why sister teams, like San Miguel and Ginebra, need a conduit or third team to complete the trade.

But this coming conference, with the team now carrying the name of a company solely owned by the Lina Group, Alvarez is bringing up his request to the commissioner that trade restrictions directly to the Tropang Texters be lifted.

"I believe this is just a commissioner matter and I’m confident that my request will be granted," Alvarez said.

But PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios told GMANews.TV that he cannot decide on the issue alone and the case needs board approval.

"In fairness to Mr. Alvarez, he was the one who volunteered to the board that Burger King, which has investors coming from Talk ‘N Text, be not allowed to trade directly to Talk ‘N Text," said Barrios. "I think he can write a request through me, but it will be the board who will decide on the matter."

But if he will have it his way, Barrios believes Air21 and Talk ‘N Text can still not trade directly owing to the fact that people from Talk ‘N Text has a share in one of the companies of the Lina Group.

"Mr. Pangilinan and Mr. Vargas have an investment in one of the companies of the Lina Group that is why I believe they cannot trade players," said Barrios. "Still, that’s just how I see it, I am not a voting member and I will bring this matter up to the board. I see this case as a board matter."

Purefoods board governor and PBA vice chairman Rene Pardo said in a text message that “they will look into the ownership of Air21 first."

"If we see no problem with that then that’s OK," said Pardo.

Coca-Cola board representative JB Baylon, in a text message, added that he’s ok with the idea of lifting the trade restrictions between Air21 and Talk N Text players.

Barrios said he will wait for Air21’s request. The issue is expected to be brought up in the board’s next meeting wherein Pardo, being the vice chairman of the PBA board, will preside since Alvarez’s team is the one involved.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Air21 Express back on PBA floor

MANILA, Philippines - Air21 Express is back and vows to deliver.

Burger King, the Bert Lina-owned franchise, is returning to its old, revered name – Air21 – in the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference, which starts on March 20.

Lina, whose Lina Group of Companies is a conglomeration of various business endeavors, ranging from freight and cargo forwarding services to food production, and other corporate services, made the decision after Burger King achieved its goal of becoming a household name in the quick service restaurant industry.

“Burger King has already gained a significant brand awareness through the PBA and with that, has decided to channel its resources for further growth. Hence, the Lina Group of Companies will be using the PBA to again promote its flagship company–which is Air21,” said Lina.

Under Air21, the Lina-owned franchise had its best years in the professional league, with the Express nearly snatching their first-ever PBA crown in the 2008 Fiesta Conference.


“Get ready for the return of the Ube Republic,” said PBA chairman and Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez, referring to the dominant color of the Air21 banner. “We will try to re-live the success that we had with the Air21 name,” he said. “We’re very upbeat because the Express name has been synonymous with a fast, exciting team that never surrenders until the final buzzer. We can do that again.”

The Lina franchise, now being coached by multi-titled mentor Yeng Guiao, entered the league in 2002 under the FedEx Express banner, before using the Air21 Express name a few years later, where they had their most successful seasons in the league, particularly in 2008.

Playing with 6-9 import Steve Thomas, Air21 made it to its first outright semifinals appearance with a league-best 12-6 record in the elimination round of the 2008 Fiesta Conference. The Express beat the Magnolia Beverage Masters in the semis in six games, to corner their first-ever stint in a PBA championship, setting up a memorable finale against Barangay Ginebra.

Although the Air21 Express lost in the championship to the Gin Kings in a best-of-seven series that went the full route, the Express were embraced by PBA fans wholeheartedly for their spirited play and exciting brand of basketball.

For the coming Fiesta Conference, the Express will be parading LeRey Hickerson, a two-time slam-dunk champion in the Mexican League. The 6-5 Hickerson arrives March 10 to join the team in preparation for the Fiesta Conference.

Source: Author Unknown  | Philstar.com